What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to assess the antimalarial and antioxidant effects of Capsicum frutescens sub-fractions on Plasmodium berghei-infected mice.

April 4, 2026Open Access

Antimalarial and Antioxidant Activities of Sub-fractions of Capsicum frutescens L. in Plasmodium berghei -Infected Mice

Key Points

This research aims to assess the antimalarial and antioxidant effects of Capsicum frutescens sub-fractions on Plasmodium berghei-infected mice.
Conducted in vivo tests using sub-fractions of Capsicum frutescens in infected mice.
Divided 85 mice into groups receiving various dosages of sub-fractions or control treatment.
Measured antioxidant levels and parasite clearance at 6 and 10 days post-inoculation.
Sub-fraction B showed significant parasite suppression on day 10 post-inoculation (p < 0.05).
Mice treated with sub-fractions experienced increased survival rates compared to controls.
Sub-fraction B demonstrated comparable scavenging activity to butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and low EC50 values.

Abstract

Abstract Oxidative stress induced by malaria parasites significantly impacts the host microenvironment, exacerbated by resistance to existing antimalarial agents. This has prompted malaria-endemic settlements—especially those in sub-Saharan settlements—to adopt medicinal plants for the treatment of fever and malaria since they are readily available and affordable. This research evaluated the antimalarial and antioxidant activities of sub-fractions of Capsicum frutescens L. fruit (CFL) in Plasmodium berghei (NK65)-parasitized mice as potential leads for antimalarial drug development. Maintaining the same controls for the sub-fractions, combined sexes of 85 mice weighing 23.7±3.5 g were randomly grouped into seven (n=5) and inoculated intraperitoneally by 0.2 mL parasitized erythrocytes. Group A received 10 mL/kg normal saline (control), Group B received 10 mg/kg chloroquine, while Groups C to G received 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, and 8.0 mg/kg body weight per sub-fraction, respectively. On 6 and 10 days post-inoculation (dpi), mice per group were euthanized. The in vivo test, selenium, vitamins C and E levels, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), superoxide ion, and peroxide ion-scavenging concentrations, as well as ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), were done using standard procedures. Treatment with CLF sub-fractions revealed low parasite clearance on 6 dpi but significantly suppressed parasites ( p <0.05) on 10 dpi for the three sub-fractions and increased survival in mice. This was more pronounced in sub-fraction B (SFB). Out of the three sub-fractions, SFB compared favourably with butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) for the scavenging activities of DPPH, peroxide ion, and superoxide ion, as well as the FRAP. This efficacy of SFB was also evident in the low EC50 obtained. Therefore, CFL sub-fractions—SFB in particular— possess antiplasmodial and antioxidant activities against fever and malaria, suggesting its potential as a lead fraction for developing novel plant-derived antimalarial therapies.

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