Anti-trypanosomal activities and biochemical changes in T. brucei infected wistar rats following oral administration of aqueous stem bark extract of Pterocarpus erinaceus and Zanthoxyllum zanthoxyloides
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Date
2017
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Centrepoint Journal (Science Edition), Published by University of Ilorin.
Abstract
The toxicological and anti-trypanosomal potentials of aqueous stem bark extracts of Pterocarpus erinaceus and Zanthoxyllum zanthoxyloides in Trypanosoma brucei infected wistar rats were determined. The albino rats (30) were randomly assigned into six (A-F) groups, each of which contains five rats. Groups A (Control) and B (Negative control) received 1 ml of distilled water, groups C and D received 1ml each of the extracts, which is equivalent to 200mg/kg rat body weight of aqueous stem bark extract of Pterocarpus erinaceus and Zanthoxyllum zanthoxyloides respectively while groups E and F received 1ml each of Inositol Hexaphosphate (IP6) and Deferoxamine respectively as standard drugs. Parasite counts were made and recorded daily, the rats were later sacrificed under slight anesthesia, 24 hours after the last treatment (day 12). The blood samples and vital organs were collected and used for the determination of biochemical assays of interest. The level of parasitemia was reduced in the Z. zanthoxyloides treated rats as at day 8 and 9 while there was no decrease in the level of parasitemia in the P. erinaceus group when compared with the control group. In the negative control rats, a progressive increment in the parasitemia level was recorded from the 4th day till the 8th day of infection before their death on the 9th day. Also, there were progressive increment in the parasitemia levels of P. erinaceous and Z. zanthoxyloides treated rats respectively before their death on the 8th day of infection, which is also the 4th day of treatment. A gradual reduction in parasitaemia in rats treated with Z. zanthoxyloides was however initiated before their eventual death on day 10. There was a significant difference in the average body weight, aspartate transaminase (AST), protein and albumin of T. brucei infected rats treated with aqueous stem bark extract of Pterocarpus erinaceus and Zanthoxyllum zanthoxyloides when compared with the controls. The aqueous extract of P. erinaceus stem bark causes significant increase in the weight of liver while no significant difference in the weight of kidney of T. brucei infected rats was recorded with respect to the control. Similarly, there was a significant increase in the liver and heart body weight ratios while there was no significant increase in the kidney body weight ratio as compared with that of the control. Also, the activity of alanine transaminase (ALT) in the serum of infected rats administered extracts of the two plants was not altered while it was significantly altered in heart. These results indicate that the two extracts caused mild alterations in the biochemical parameters studied at the studied concentrations (200mg/kg rat body weight). Of the two natural plants used, Z. zanthoxyloides is less toxic and produced the best pharmacological effect as such; it can be used in the management of trypanosomiasis more than P. erinaceus.
Description
The aqueous extract of Z. zanthoxyloides stem bark reduced the level of parasitemia while the aqueous stem bark extract of P. erinaceous did not, contrary to the belief of those using it locally to manage trypanosomiasis,
Z. zanthoxyloides aqueous stem bark extract has anti-trypanosomal activity. These results indicate that the two extracts caused mild alterations in the biochemical parameters monitored at the studied concentrations (200mg/kg rat body weight). Of the two natural plants used, Z. zanthoxyloides is less toxic and produced the best pharmacological effect as such; it can be used in the management of trypanosomiasis more than P. erinaceus.
Keywords
Pterocarpus erinaceus,, biochemical assay, Zanthoxyllum zanthoxyloides, anti-trypanosomal, parasitemia
Citation
Sulaiman Adenike Faoziyat, Ahmad Olatunde, Iyiola O.A., Quadri A. L., Bello O. Kabir., Babalola1 Seyi Adekunle, Tijani1 Yusuf Olatunji and Ilusanmi1 Abimbola V. (2017). Anti-trypanosomal activities and biochemical changes in T. brucei infected wistar rats following oral administration of aqueous stem bark extract of Pterocarpus erinaceus and Zanthoxyllum zanthoxyloides. Centrepoint Journal (Science Edition), Published by University of Ilorin. Vol. 24 (1) Page- 191-215 Available online at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/321094876_Anti-trypanosomal_activities_and_biochemical_changes_in_T_brucei_infected_wistar_rats_following_oral_administration_of_aqueous_stem_bark_extract_of_Pterocarpus_erinaceus_and_Zanthoxyllum_zanthoxyloide URL: http://www.unilorin.edu.ng/centrepoint