Evaluation of the Efficacy of Crude Extracts of Salix subserrata and Silene macroselen for the treatment of rabies in Ethiopia

Abstract

A study was conducted between November, 2007 and April, 2008 to evaluate the anti-rabies activity of the leaf of Salix subserrata and root of Silene macroselen which are traditionally used for the treatment of rabies in Bereh-Aleltu Woreda, North Shewa, Central Ethiopia. The study involved oral administration of crude extracts of Salix subserrata and Silene macroselen to Pasteur Virus (PV) strain rabies virus infected mice which were assigned into three treatment and one negative control groups. Chloroform, methanol 80% and aqueous extracts of the study plants were prepared using maceration technique. Statistical analysis was performed by one-way analysis of variance tests coupled to least significant difference to compare result between treatment and positive control groups. Of the 6 crude extracts, chloroform and methanol 80% of Silene macroselen and chloroform and aqueous of Salix subserrata were found to increase the survival time of mice significantly (P< 0.05). Nevertheless, aqueous extract of Silene macroselen and methanol 80% extract of Salix subserrata did not exhibit a significant effect on the survival time. 1 day and 2 days treatment groups of the chloroform extract of S. macroselen indicated significant difference on the survival time from the positive control (P< 0.05). The chloroform and aqueous extracts of S. subserrata and the methanol 80 % extract of S. macroselen in their 1 day and 3 days treatment showed significant difference on survival time from the positive control group (P< 0.05). The results obtained from the present work suggest good correlation between traditional therapeutic uses and the in vivo anti-rabies activity. Further characterization of the active ingredients would reveal useful compounds.

Incidence of Rabies in Humans and Domestic Animals and People's Awareness in North Gondar Zone, Ethiopia

“…There are preliminary reports of anti-rabies activities of some commonly used herbs) in the traditional anti-rabies treatment practice in Ethiopia. For example, Deressa et al [25] using mice model reported significant increase in survival time of rabies infected mice with treatment of chloroform and aqueous extracts of Salix subserrata leaf, and chloroform and methanol 80% extracts of Silene macroselen root as compared with control group. But more research is needed to identify and prove traditional medicines and practices that could be reliably used in dealing with rabies problem.…”

Medicinal Plants Used for the Management of Rabies in Ethiopia – A Review

“…Salix subserrata Chloroform crude extract on 1 day and 3 days treatment groups with the chloroform extract are significantly associated with the survival time [12].…”

“…The practice of traditional medicine for the control of rabies in most parts of Ethiopia is based on the use of plant medicines for many years. Several tradi tional herbs have been formulated by traditional healers to treat human and animal rabies [12].…”

“…Deressa et al [12] also conducted a study on the evaluation of the efficacy of the crude extracts of Salix subserrata and Silene macroselen for the treatment of rabies in Ethiopia. The result demonstrated that the chloroform and methanol 80% extracts of the leaf of Salix subserrata and the chloroform and aqueous extract of the root of the same plant were found to increase the survival time of mice significantly [10].…”

“…Another study by Deressa et al [12] also revealed chloroform and 80% methanolic root extracts of Silene macroselen were found to increase the survival time of mice significantly [12].…”