ANTI-TRYPANOSOMAL ACTIVITY OF METHANOL EXTRACT OF CHAMAECRISTA MIMOSOIDES LEAF IN TRYPANOSOMA BRUCEI INFECTED MICE.

Abstract

Trypanosomiasis is a protozoan disease cause by a unicellular parasites and transmitted by the bite of tsetse fly. Pathogenic trypanosome infections of domestic animals in sub-Saharan Africa largely account for the low livestock productivity in the continent thus making it an important priority for the agricultural sector and biomedical and public agencies. Methanolic extract of leaves of Chaemacrista mimosoides was investigated for anti-trypanosomal activity, using mice infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei. Five groups comprising of five mice per group were used in the study. Four groups were infected with T. brucei brucei using 0.5ml of donor blood corresponding to 2 parasites per microscope field. Group 1 was not infected and was used to monitor the cause of any disease, group 2 was infected but not treated and served as the negative control, group3 was infected and treated with 0.2ml of Berenil and served as the positive control while groups 4 and 5 were treated with 300 and 400mg/kg body weight of plant extract respectively. There was a significant dose dependent reduction (p<0.05) in the parasite count with the mean values of 4 and 3.6 parasite per microscope field observed in the dose of 300 and400mg/kg body weight of extract respectively compared with the positive control value of 8.75. The result of the study showed that the methanolic leaf extract of chaemacrista mimisoides possess trypanocidal properties and could serve as a source of new trypanocidal agent from medicinal plants.