Invitro Antitrypanosomal activity of fractions of ethanol extract from Terminalia cattapa leaf against Trypanosomal Brucei Brucei

Abstract

Trypanosomiasis is a tropical disease threatening human and animal health. Trypanosoma brucei brucei is unicellular parasites transmitted by the bite of tsetse fly and is the causative agent of sleeping sickness in humans and related diseases in animals. Over 25% of our common medicines contains some compounds obtained from plants. This research work is aimed at evaluating the invitro activity of fractionated ethanol extract of Terminalia cattapa leaf against Trypanosoma brucei brucei. Crude extract was obtained by cold maceration using absolute ethanol, followed by partial purification of the extract using column chromatography techniques. The test was performed in triplicates using a 96 well microtitre plate. Light microscope was used to view the parasite motility at magnification of × 400. Treatment with varying concentrations of pooled fractions F1, F2 and F3 (100, 50 and 25 mg/ml) resulted in reduction of number of motile parasites compared to the negative control loaded with parasites. In conclusion, fractions (F2 ans F3) from ethanol extracts of Terminalia cattapa leaf have anti-trypanosoma activities against Trypanosoma brucei brucei in a dose depended manner with F3 being the most potent..