In Vivo Trypanocidal Effect of Ethanolic Leaf Extract of Khaya Nyasica Stapf

ABSTRACT

The ethanolic and aqueous crude extracts of Khaya nyasica Stapf. (Meliaceae) leaves and stem bark were screened for their trypanocidal effects against Trypanosoma brucei brucei in mice. At a single 25mg dose; the ethanolic leaf extract demonstrated trypanocidal activity by reducing parasitaemia from day 8 post treatment. There was no observed reduction of parasitaemia in solvent treated and untreated mice. The best trypanocidal effect was achieved at the same single 25mg dose when treatment commenced simultaneously with inoculation of trypanosomes by delaying development of parasitaemia by three days and reducing it from day 9 post treatment. Further bio-guided fractionation studies of ethanolic fractions is recommended to evaluate the observed trypanocidal effect of the plant and identify the active principle