Evaluation of Anti-trypanosomal Properties of Four Extracts of Leaves, Stem and Root Barks of <i>Prosopis africana</i> in Laboratory Animals

Abstract

Qualitative phytochemical and anti-trypanosomal properties of the petroleum ether, chloroform, methanol and aqueous extracts, obtained by cold extraction from the leaves, stem bark and roots of Prosopis africana were evaluated. The methanolic and aqueous extracts of the stem bark and leaves of the plant contained alkaloids, saponins, tannins and flavonoids. Anthraquinone was present in the stem bark methanolic extract and in the methanolic and aqueous extracts of the root as well as the aqueous extract of the leaves. Resins was present in the petroleum ether and chloroform extracts of the stem bark and leaves, while tannins was detected in the methanol and aqueous extracts of the stem bark and leaves of the plant in addition to the petroleum ether and chloroform extracts of the root bark. All the solvent extracts showed strong in vitro anti-trypanosomal activity and 2 and 4 mg/ml, but in vivo only the methanolic extract of the leaves displayed the most promising anti-trypanosomal effect at 200 mg/kg dose. Hence, Prosopis africana extracts possess significant anti-trypanosomal activity to warrant bioassay-guided evaluation and identification of the active principle.

In vivo effect of Commiphora swynnertonii ethanolic extracts on Trypanosoma congolense and selected immunological components in mice

“…The significant suppression of T. congolense at 2000 mg/kg a day post therapy and at 1000 mg/kg on day 2, 3 and 4 is an indication that the ethanolic stem bark extract of C. swynnertonii possesses antitrypanosomal activity. Similar observations using extracts from different plants have been observed by other workers [29, 30]. Therefore, the current results confirm our earlier report which had similar results [21].…”

Anti-plasmodial Activity of the Mixed Stem Bark Extracts ofAnogeissus leiocarpusandProsopis africanaandin vitroEvaluation of Its Tablet Dosage Form

“…The observed activity of AA1 is supported by previous findings on the parasitocidal activities of A. leiocarpus and P. africana (1,22). The anti-malarial activity can be attributed to the presence of anti-infective phytochemical compounds such as alkaloids (prosopine and prosopinine), which have been found to be present in P. africana (1) and Castalagin isolated from Anogeissus leiocarpus (28). The injection of acetic acid into the peritoneum acts as a local irritant, triggering an inflammatory reaction that is characterized by the release of prostaglandins (PGE 2 , PGF 2α ), tumor necrosis factor (TNFα), and interleukins (IL-1β, IL-6), similar to endotoxin-induced inflammation in malaria.…”

“…Therefore, it is likely that AA1 and/or its active metabolites have a short biological half-life, which may have enabled the multiplication of recrudescent parasites after treatment; thus, changes in survival time of AA1-treated groups were insignificant compared with the untreated control (18). The observed activity of AA1 is supported by previous findings on the parasitocidal activities of A. leiocarpus and P. africana (1,22). The anti-malarial activity can be attributed to the presence of anti-infective phytochemical compounds such as alkaloids (prosopine and prosopinine), which have been found to be present in P. africana (1) and Castalagin isolated from Anogeissus leiocarpus (28).…”

Anti–trypanosomal effect of Peristrophe bicalyculata extract on Trypanosoma brucei brucei–infected rats

“…Similarly, it has been reported that a complete elimination or reduction of motility of parasites when compared to the control could be taken as index of trypanocidal activity [21] . From the results in the present study, all crude extracts of P. bicalyculata: cold water, hot water, butanol and methanol extracts exhibited in vitro anti-trypanosomal activity against T. brucei brucei, however, the cold water extract was considered most active as it inhibited the 90% of the parasites after 60 min of incubation compared to other extracts.…”

“…The procedure was carried out separately for all extracts. A cessation or drop in motility of the parasites in treated blood compared to that of parasite-loaded control blood without extract was taken as a measure of anti-trypanosomal activity, since motility constitutes a relatively reliable indicator of the viability of most zooflagellate parasites [21] . The shorter the time of cessation of motility of the parasite, the more active the extract was considered to be [22] .…”