Abstract
Azadirachta indica commonly known as Neem is known to possess high medicinal value. This study aimed at determining the in vivo anti trypanosomal potential of aqueous extracts of A. indica leaves on Trypanosoma brucei brucei infected mice. The toxicity of A. indica on mice was determined after which different extract doses (100, 250 and 500mg/kg) were administered intraperitoneally on the third day after infection, administration lasted for 7 days. The effects of the extract in trypanosome infected mice were observed for 15 days by monitoring the changes in packed cell volume (PCV), Parasitemia and weight of mice. Comparison was made to the positive control group treated with Diamineazine Aceturate and negative control-infected but not treated.The leaf extract of neem plant did not have acute toxicity on the uninfected animals, there was no significant effect observed in weight (Group 3 which was given 500mg/kg had a weight of 35g by day 7 while control had a weight of 35.2g) and PCV (Group 1; 100mg/kg, Day 7 had a PCV of 44, Group 3; 500mg/kg, 45 while control had a PCV of 45) (p>0.05). There was however a significant difference between the different extract doses and control with respect to parasitemia, (500mg/kg extract dose showed more anti trypanosomal potential compared to other doses). PCV (mice that were given 500mg/kg of extract dose recorded a higher PCV compared to lower doses) and weight of the mice; (p Azadirachta indica extract possess anti trypanosomal potentials. It is therefore recommended that more research on ethno botanic medicine should be encouraged and treatment options employed in the treatment of neglected diseases.
Highlights
African trypanosomiasis commonly known as sleeping sickness is a vector borne parasitic disease of man and his domestic animals
The level of packed cell volume of mice of different extract doses for one week of toxicity test is shown in figure 1
The weight showed a decline among the different extract dose and that of the negative control
Summary
African trypanosomiasis commonly known as sleeping sickness is a vector borne parasitic disease of man and his domestic animals. Trypanosome, the causative parasite is a protozoan belonging to the genus Trypanosoma. The parasites are transferred to their human and animal host through insect bites which have acquired their infection from human or animal harboring the parasite [1]. There are three different subspecies of Trypanosoma brucei which cause different variants of trypanosomiasis. They include T. brucei gambiense which causes slow onset chronic trypanosomiasis in human. They are most common in central and western Africa. T. brucei rhodesiense which cause fast onset acute trypanosomiasis in human is common in south and eastern
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