14333 10.30848/PJB2026-10(18) <p> Antimalarial and antioxidant efficacy of medicinal plant, Morus alba: an integrated study using histopathological, hematological, biochemical, and molecular docking approaches</p> Anber Saleem, Naveeda Akhtar Qureshi, Muhammad Usman Sohail, Shafaq Maqsood, Shahbaz Farzand, Mushtaq Ahmad and Ali G. Alkhathami <p style="text-align: justify;"> Malaria remains a major global health challenge due to increasing resistance. The present study evaluates the antiplasmodial potential of <em>Morus alba</em> methanolic extract (MAME) in a murine model. <em>Plasmodium berghei</em> NK65-infected BALB/c mice were treated with chloroquine (5 mg/kg) and <em>Morus alba</em> methanolic leaf extract (250, 500 and 750 mg/kg). The experimental grouping included Group A (Control), B (Negative control), C (Positive control), D1, D2, and D3 (All treated with 250, 500 &amp; 750 mg/kg of <em>Morus alba</em> methanolic extract). Acute toxicity testing showed no mortality at 2000 mg/kg. Significant parasite inhibition in group D3 proved antiplasmodial potential of extract at a higher dose of 750mg/kg. Phytochemical screening revealed phenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, and terpenoids. The concentration of extract for 50% inhibition of biological activity was calculated as (IC₅₀was 14.01 ug/ml) which showed its potency as biological agent. <em>In silico</em> analysis of bioactive phytocompounds identified via GC-MS showed strong affinity for newly discovered antimalarial target, <em>Plasmodium falciparum</em> <em>glutathione S transferase</em> <em>PfGST</em>. These findings suggest dose-dependent antimalarial and antioxidant effects of <em>Morus alba</em>.</p> Published 2026 58 10 2165 2177