Journal of Clinical & Experimental Pharmacology

Abstract

Invivo Anti-Trypanosomal Activity of the Leaf Extracts of Albizia Schimperiana (Fabaceae) Against Trypanosoma Congolense Infection in Mice

Amene Tesfaye,Getachew Terefe,Mirutse Giday,Workineh Shibeshi*

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate effect of dichloromethane (DCM) and methanol (MeOH) extracts of the leaf of Albizia schimperiana against Trypanosoma congolense using in vivo mice models.

Methods: The leaf of the plant was extracted by maceration technique using DCM and absolute MeOH to obtain the corresponding crude extracts. The extracts were screened for secondary metabolites and anti-trypanosomal activity of the crude extracts was evaluated at doses of 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg in Swiss albino mice infected with T. congolense isolated from natural infection of cattle. The animals were monitored for test parameters including parasitemia, packed cell volume, rectal temperatures, body weight and survival.

Results: The acute toxicity test showed that both solvent extracts were safe at doses of up to 2 g/kg. The methanol extract at 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg showed a statistically significant (p<0.05) trypanosuppresive effect, but was unable to completely clear trypanosomes. Significantly (p<0.05) higher packed cell volume (PCV), weight and survival time were observed in groups treated with higher doses of methanol extract, however, the DCM extract treated mice has not showed statistically significant (p>0.05) reduction in parasitemia except 400 mg/kg dose.

Conclusion: It can conclude that MeOH extract has promising activity against T. congolense in mice by reducing the levels of parasitemia and the activities may be due to presence of alkaloid, flavonoid and saponins which are responsible for anti-trypanosomal activity.