Trypanocidal effects of Balanites aegyptiaca Del. (Zygophyllaceae) leaf extract and suramin on Trypanosoma evansi experimental infection in albino rat

Abstract

Trypanosoma evansi, is one among several species of Trypanosomes responsible for a major protozoan parasitic disease of domestic animals. The current study aimed to investigate the trypanocidal effects of aqueous and methanolic leaf extracts of Balanites aegyptiaca Del (Zygophyllaceae) and suramin on albino rats infected with Trypanosoma evansi. In total, 35 Swiss albino rats randomly separated into seven (7) groups (A- G) of 5 rats each were intraperitoneally infected with 0.5 ml of blood containing 1.0 × 10⁶ trypanosomes and treated with the extracts and suramin for 7 days and single dose respectively by day 12 post infection (p.i). Clinical parameters and haematological indices were evaluated. Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed that Balanites aegyptiaca contained the following metabolites: flavonoids, tannin, saponins, alkaloids, lycosides, steroids and volatile oils. There was marked initial reduction in Packed Cell Volume (PCV), Haemoglobin (Hb) and Red Blood Cells (RBCs) counts in the infected/untreated group (Group A) but following treatment with B. aegyptiaca leaf aqueous and methanolic extracts, these values were reversed. Furthermore, there was reversion of leukopenia after treatment of the rats individually with methanolic leaf extracts (150 mg/kg of B. aegyptiaca; Group B) from 3.47±1.49 × 10³/mm³ by day 12 p.i. to 9.03±2.18 by day 40 p.i., similar to the pre-infection value. In conclusion, the infection caused clinical and haematological changes that were ameliorated following treatment with methanolic and aqueous leaf extract of B. aegyptiaca.