Proximate Compositions, Antimalarial and Haematological Investigation of Cyperus Esculentus Tuber

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@article{1720169,
      author = {Omolara Josephine Fagbemi, Oreofe Eunice Fagbemi; Silas A. Oke, Stephen A. Adesida; Oluwatosin F. Olawuni, Wahab O. Quadri; Rowland M.O. Kayode, Charles C. Benedict; Kolade O. Faloye},
      title = {Proximate Compositions, Antimalarial and Haematological Investigation of Cyperus Esculentus Tuber},
      journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
      year = {2026},
      volume = {10},
      number = {1},
      pages = {4132-4143},
      issn = {2456-8880},
      url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1720169.pdf},
      abstract = {Cyperus esculentus is an edible medicinal plant widely cultivated in northern Nigeria and traditionally used for the management of various ailments. This study evaluated the proximate composition, antimalarial activity, and haematological effects of fermented and unfermented C. esculentus chaff. The chaff was fermented for 24, 48, and 72 h, oven-dried, and analysed for proximate composition using standard AOAC methods. Seventy Swiss albino mice infected with Plasmodium berghei berghei were randomly assigned to fourteen groups (n = 5). Fermented and unfermented chaff were administered orally at doses of 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg using the four-day suppressive test, while chloroquine (10 mg/kg) served as the positive control. Haematological parameters were also evaluated following treatment. Data were analysed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by the Student–Newman–Keuls post hoc test, with statistical significance set at P < 0.05. Fermentation influenced the nutritional composition of the chaff, with the 48 h and 72 h fermented samples exhibiting the highest moisture (8.93%), carbohydrate (50.40%), and crude protein (6.89%) contents, whereas the unfermented sample contained the highest crude fat (24.15%), crude fibre (16.63%), and ash (2.01%). The 72 h fermented chaff at 100 mg/kg produced the highest chemosuppressive activity (94.98%) and the lowest ED₅₀ (20.99 mg/kg) and ED₉₀ (57.85 mg/kg), comparable to chloroquine. Treatment also produced variable changes in haematological indices. These findings demonstrate that fermentation enhances the antimalarial efficacy of C. esculentus chaff while improving its nutritional profile, supporting its potential as a promising source of affordable plant-based antimalarial agents.},
      keywords = {Cyperus Esculentus, Proximate Composition, Antimalarial, Haematology},
      month = {July},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV10I1-1720169}
  }