2.6. Curative Antimalarial Test (Rane's Test)

The curative test was done as reported previously [23]. On day 0, standard inocula (0.2 ml) as prepared above were injected in mice intraperitoneally. About 72 h later (day 3), 45 mice were randomly segregated into nine (9) groups of five (5) mice and dosed (p.o.) once daily for five days (day 3 to day 7) according to the following groupings: groups 1–3 were parasitized and received, respectively, 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, and 400 mg/kg of PA while groups 4–6 were parasitized and received, respectively, 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, and 400 mg/kg of DE. Group 7 was parasitized and received the standard drug, ACT (artemisinin combination therapy), while group 8 (control group) was infected but untreated (received vehicle only). Parasitemia was monitored by preparing a thin blood film from the tail of each mouse on day 3 (before treatment) and day 8 by the use of Giemsa stain. The slides were examined under a microscope on ×100 magnification. Parasitemia was determined as follows [22]:

On day 8, mice were sacrificed and blood samples were collected for hematological (Hb and PCV) analysis.