Am. J. Biomed. Sci. 2022,14(1),29-38;doi:10.5099/aj220100029 © 2022 by NWPII. All rights reserved 29 American Journal of Biomedical Sciences ISSN: 1937-9080 nwpii.com/ajbms In-vivo Antiplasmodial Impact of Dihydroartemisinin-Piperaquine- Clindamycin on Plasmodium berghei-Infected Mice Elias Adikwu 1 , Simeon Ajeka Igono 2 and Nwakaego Omonigho Ebong *3 1 Department of Pharmacology /Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Niger Delta University, Bayelsa State, Nigeria 2 Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria 3 Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria * Corresponding Author Nwakaego Omonigho Ebong Department of Pharmacology Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State Nigeria Email: nwakaebong@gmail.com Tel: +2348132321014 Received:02 October 2021; | Revised:06 November 2021; | Accepted:10 March 2022 Abstract Objective: The concurrent use of antibiotics and antimalarial drugs may increase Plasmodium susceptibility. Clindamycin (C) is an antibiotic with potential antiplasmodial activity. Dihydroartemisinin- piperaquine (D-P) is an effective antimalarial drug. This study examined the antiplasmodial effect of dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine-clindamycin (D-P-C) on mice infected with Plasmodium berghei. Methods: Adult Swiss albino mice (25-30g) of n=6/group were used. Using the curative, suppressive and prophylactic tests, mice were infected with Plasmodium. berghei and orally treated per day with D-P (1.71/13.7mg/kg), C (10mg/kg) and D-P-C, respectively. The positive control was orally treated per day with chloroquine (CQ) (10 mg/kg) whereas the normal and the negative controls were orally treated per day with normal saline (0.2ml). Results: In the curative, suppressive and prophylactic tests, D-P-C decreased percentage parasitemia levels with significant difference observed at p<0.05 when compared to individual doses of C, D-P and CQ. D-P-C significantly prolonged mean survival time with difference observed at p< 0.05 when compared to individual doses of D and D-P. The anti-anemic effect of D-P-C was characterized by increased hemoglobin, red blood cells, packed cell volume and decreased white blood cells with significant difference observed at p<0.05 when compared to individual doses of C, D-P and CQ. Treatment with D-P-C eradicated liver Plasmodium. Conclusion: D-P-C showed promising antiplasmodial activity. It may be used for the treatment of malaria. Keywords: Artemisinin, Piperaquine, Clindamycin, Plasmodium, Mice