Anti- trypanocidal potentials of Aqueous and Ethanolic leaf extracts of <i>Moringa oleifera</i> in wistar stock albino rats

Abstract

Moringa oleifera is a pan-tropical species that is reputed to possess a number of nutritional and medicinal properties. Aqueous and Ethanolic extracts from Moringa oleifera leaves were screened for in-vivo curative activities against Trypanosoma brucei brucei (T.b. brucei) which is pathogenic to many animals and has a direct bearing on agricultural activities. Thirty three rats were assigned to eleven treatments with three rats per treatment. The treatments were Treatments 1(control; not inoculated with T.b. brucei), 2 (Inoculated with T.b. brucei but not treated), 3, 5, 7 (inoculated with T.b. brucei and treated with 100mg, 200mg and 300mg ethanolic extract respectively), 4, 6, 8 (inoculated with T.b. brucei and treated with 100mg, 200mg and 300mg aqueous extract respectively), 9, 10 (Not inoculated with T.b. brucei but treated with ethanolic and aqueous extracts respectively), 11 (inoculated with T.b. brucei and treated with Diminazine Aceturate). The inoculated rats were treated through the intra-peritoneal route with ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Moringa oleifera twice daily for 5 consecutive days. The results showed that the rats treated with 100, 200 and 300mg/kg body weight for both extracts had their life span prolonged by 4, 10, and 15 days respectively when compared with rats that were inoculated but not treated. Both extracts were also not toxic to the rats at 300mg/kg body weight. The findings are indicative of the anti-trypanocidal potentials of Moringa oleifera in the management of trypanosomiasis.

Keywords: Moringa oleifera, Extracts, Anti- trypanocidal, Wister Rats