Investigation of the Antitrypanosomal Activity of Hydromethanol Extract of Olax subscorpioidea Root in Rats Experimentally Infected with Trypanosoma brucei

Abstract

The development of livestock industry in Sub-Sahara Africa has been greatly limited by the menace of African trypanosomiasis. This study investigated the antitrypanosomal effects of hydromethanol extract of Olax subscorpioidea in Wistar rats infected with Trypanosoma brucei. Thirty adult rats were randomly assigned to 6 groups (n = 5). On day zero, groups 1-5 were infected with Trypanosoma brucei, while group 6 was uninfected. On day 7, after establishing log of parasitaemia, groups 1-3 received extract at a dose of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, respectively, while group 4 received diaminazene aceturate (3.5 mg/kg), and groups 5 and 6 received distilled water. The log of parasitaemia, rectal temperature and packed cell volumes (PCV) were determined on days zero, 7, 14, 21 and 28. On days 7 and 14 post infection, the log of parasitaemia of the extract and diminazene aceturate treated groups were significantly (p <0.05) reduced when compared with the negative control group. On days zero, 7, 14 and 21 post infection, there was no significant difference in the mean rectal temperature of the extract and diminazene aceturate treated group when compared with the negative control. On days 14 and 21 post infection, the PCV of extract (100 mg/kg), diminazene aceturate (3.5 mg/kg) and normal control groups were significantly (p < 0.05) higher when compared with the negative control group. The findings of this study suggests that hydromethanol extracts of Olax subscorpioidea possess antitrypanosomal activity and justified its folkloric use for this purpose.