Comparison of Pawpaw (Carica Papaya) and Mango (Mangifera Indica) Leaves Extracts for Antitrypanosomal Activites

Abstract

These studies aimed at confirming our former work on antitrypanosomal effects of Mangifera indica (mango) and Carica papya (Pawpaw) leaves in experimental animals infected with T. brucei and identify which one of them is superior as an antiparasitic agent. It was also designed to carry out further fractionation of the better of the two to identify the chemical component responsible for the observed activity. There is evidence from our data that the pawpaw extract has a greater antitrypanosomal effect then the mango extract. On further fractionation of the pawpaw extract, the bulk of the antiparasitic effect was found to be located in the alkaloid fraction.

NQJHM Vol. 14 (3&4) 2004: pp. 294-298