In vivoameliorative effects of methanol leaf extract ofLawsonia inermisLinn on experimentalTrypanosoma congolenseinfection in Wistar rats

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the ameliorative effect of Lawsonia inermis Linn used traditionally against trypanosomosis. Twenty-five adult Wistar rats of both sex were individually infected intraperitoneally (IP) with 106Trypanosoma congolense per ml of blood. Following establishment of infection, the rats were randomly divided into five groups of 5 rats each. Rats in groups I, II, and III were treated with 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg of the extract, respectively, while rats in groups IV and V were treated with 3.5 mg/kg and 2 ml/kg of diminazene aceturate (DM) once and physiological buffered saline, respectively. All treatments except DM were given orally for 7 days IP. The antitrypanosomal effect of the plant was assessed by observing the level of parasitaemia daily, packed cell volume (PCV) weekly, erythrocyte osmotic fragility (EOF) and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration on day 21. Phytochemical screening of the extract revealed the presence of alkaloids, carbohydrates, triterpenes, steroids, cardiac glycosides, saponins, tannins and flavonoids. The extract significantly (P < 0.05) reduced levels of parasitaemia at 250 mg/kg. PCV was higher (P > 0.05) in extract treated groups but significantly higher (P < 0.05) in group II at week 2 when compared to group V. Rats in group II had significantly lower values of EOF and MDA when compared with groups IV and V. Thus, the leaf of L. inermis has in addition to an antitrypanosomal effect against T. congolense in rats, an attenuating effect on the trypanosomosis pathology probably mediated via protection of the erythrocyte membrane against trypanosome-induced oxidative damage to the erythrocytes.

Acute, sub-acute, sub-chronic and chronic toxicity studies of four important Nigerian ethnomedicinal plants in rats

“…The apparent safety level recorded in the present study underscores non-safety dose optimisation usage of medicinal plants in folkloric medicine. This agrees with the finding of Tauheed et al [20], who observed that the use of a wide range of doses of decoction and infusion of medicinal plants in traditional medicine could be due to their wide margin of safety. Bodyweight changes and organo-somatic index (OSI) have been used to predict the toxic effects of exogenous compounds [21].…”

“…The apparent lack of morbidity and absence of mortality in the determination of median lethal dose (LD 50 ) of the four plants show that their LD 50 is exceeds 5000 mg/kg. According to Lorke [19] and Tauheed et al [20], a chemical or drug candidate with an LD 50 of 5000 mg/kg or greater is acutely safe and can be used for therapeutic purposes. The apparent safety level recorded in the present study underscores non-safety dose optimisation usage of medicinal plants in folkloric medicine.…”

Mammogenic and Lactogenic Effects of Leaf Extract and Fractions of Launaea taraxacifolia and Resveratrol in Lactating Wistar Rats

“…Our finding agrees with earlier reports that any chemical substance devoid of acute signs at 5000 mg/kg in a test population can be regarded as acutely safe and can be used as therapeutic agent. 25,26 Therefore, n-hexane extract of L. taraxacifolia is unlikely to be associated with acute hazardous effects in normal usage. The specific TLC chromatogram was positive for all sprays.…”

A Review on Lawsonia Inermis: A Potential Medicinal Plant

“…The extract significantly (p<0.05) reduced levels of parasitaemia at 250 mg/kg, increased PCV (p>0.05) and significantly decreased EOF and MDA. The authors concluded that, in addition to an antitrypanosomal effect of of Lawsonia inermis against T. congolense in rats, it attenuated the trypanosomosis pathology probably via protection of the erythrocyte membrane against trypanosome-induced oxidative damage to the erythrocytes [94]. The lousicidal activity of synthesized Ag NPs was studied against human head louse, Pediculus humanus capitis De Geer (Phthiraptera: Pediculidae), and sheep body louse, Bovicola ovis Schrank (Phthiraptera: Trichodectidae).…”