COMPARATIVE ANTITRYPANOSOMAL SCREENING OF METHANOLIC EXTRACTS OF KHAYA SENEGALENSIS AND MORINGA OLEIFERA

Abstract

The in vitro and in vivo activities of methanolic  extracts of
defatted  leaves  and  stems  of  Khaya  senegalensis  and
Moringa  oleifera  on  Trypanosoma  brucei  brucei  were
investigated  and  compared.  The  in  vitro  assessment
involved  incubating  the  parasite  (in  triplicate)  in  the
presence  of  various  extract  concentrations  in  a  96-well
microtitre plate against negative and drug controls. The
stem extract of Khaya senegalensis and Moringa oleifera
stem  extract  gave  the  highest   and  the  least  in  vitro
activities    with  per  cent   drop in  parasite  population  of
43.76  and  29.46  respectively.  The  in  vitro  results
compared  well  with  that  of  Diminazine  Aceturate,  a
standard  trypanocides  employed  in  the  control  well.
Intraperitoneal treatment of T. brucei brucei-infected mice
using  these  stem  extracts  at  200  mg/kg  b.w.  revealed
complete elimination of the parasite from blood circulation
in Moringa oleifera  –treated animals and suppression of
parasitaemia  in  Khaya  senegalensis-treated  group,
contrary  to  expectation  raised  by  the  in  vitro  findings.
Subinoculation  experiment  with  various  organ
homogenates,  however,  showed  residue  of  live  parasite
hidden within organs of infected animal whose  parasites
were cleared from systemic circulation. The implications
of these findings is discussed.