Toxicity study and anti-trypanosomal activities of aqueous and methanol whole plant extracts of Brillantaisia owariensis on Trypanosoma brucei-induced infection in BALB/c mice

Abstract

Background The problem of drug resistance and toxicity in trypanosomiasis is ever-increasing, thereby creating a need to search for efficacious and safer alternatives that are of plant origin. We designed the present study to assess the oral acute toxicity, and anti-trypanosomal activity of Brillantaisia owariensis in mice. Methods Fifty-eight BALB/c mice were used for this study. For toxicity assessment, eighteen mice were divided into two groups of nine mice each, and acute single oral administration of the aqueous and methanol whole plant extracts of B. owariensis was assessed for each group as per Lorke’s method. Mice were observed for signs of toxicity of liver and kidney organs after two weeks of oral administration. For the anti-trypanosomal activity, forty mice were divided into eight groups of five mice. Mouse in each group was inoculated with 0.1 mL containing106T. brucei /mL. Following patency of 3 days, mice were treated at different dosages of methanol and aqueous extracts. Pre-infection, post-infection, and post-treatment data for rectal temperature, body weight, parasiteamia level, packed cell volume, and daily survival were monitored. Results The acute oral toxicity studies (LD50) for methanol and aqueous plant extracts in this study were calculated as 3535 mg/kg/body weight, and are non-toxic. No obvious histopathologic observation in the liver and kidney tissues. The mean daily rectal temperature and mean weights of all the treated mice were restored to normal values and significant (P, 0.05) in comparison to the positive control. Parasitaemia clearance by both extracts was suppressive. The mean PCV values were significantly increased following treatment, and there was prolonged survival especially in mice treated with methanol extracts. Conclusion The study concludes that the extracts of B. owariensis are relatively non-toxic with a good safety margin when administered to mice orally. Crude methanol extract exhibited better suppressive and haematinic antitrypanosomal activities than the aqueous extract, and it has a promising effect by its ability to reduce anaemia in mice challenged with T. brucei brucei, and prolonged survival.

Efficacy of the Whole Plant Ethanol Extract of Phyllanthus Amarus on Trypanosoma Brucei-Induced Pathology in Wistar Rat

“…This could also be attributed to the possibility that the active compounds may not effectively reach the target location. Furthermore, the secondary metabolites in the extracts probably underwent biotransformation within the liver and gastrointestinal system, impeding the total elimination of the parasites (Ayawa et al, 2021). Antigenic variation, a phenomenon characterised by the continuous transition of trypanosomes from the expression of one immunologically distinct variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) to another, enables trypanosomes to evade the immune system.…”

“…Liver damage is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality and has long been recognised as a clinical feature of African trypanosomiasis (Jerry, 2014;Ayawa et al, 2021). Trypanosoma-induced hepatocyte injury may manifest significant elevated serum level enzymes of aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP).…”

“…To treat African trypanosomiasis, chemoprophylactic or chemotherapeutic medicines are commonly utilised. However, drug scarcity, high costs, side effects, and toxicity make treating African trypanosomiasis difficult (Wurochekke et al, 2004(Wurochekke et al, , 2005Ayawa et al, 2021). Furthermore, drug resistance is a significant concern that threatens to undermine global efforts to control or eradicate African Trypanosomiasis.…”

“…Furthermore, drug resistance is a significant concern that threatens to undermine global efforts to control or eradicate African Trypanosomiasis. Considering this growing problem in treating African trypanosomiasis, it is crucial to search for readily available, less toxic, and cheaper chemotherapeutic agents for treating African trypanosomiasis (Atawodi et al, 2003;Mann et al, 2009;Ayawa et al, 2021).…”

Inhibition of phospholipase A2, platelet aggregation and egg albumin induced rat paw oedema as anti-inflammatory effect of Peltophorun pterocarpus stem-bark

“…Different parts of Peltophorum pterocarpum have been reported to possess hepatoprotective effect [3], the neuroprotective effect [5], etc. Phytochemical screening carried out on ethanol leaves extract indicated the presence of some secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, sterols, and cardiac glycosides [6][7][8][9][10][11]. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and anti-inflammatory activity of flavonoid-rich extract of Peltophorum pterocarpum Stem-Bark on Wistar rats.…”