Trypanocidal activity of ethanolic leaf extract of Andrographis paniculata

Abstract

Andrographis paniculata used in this study belongs to Acanthacae family and is commonly known as king of bitters. This study aimed at evaluating effect of A. paniculata leaf extract on experimental rats infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei. Cold maceration was used for extraction and the biomass was fractionated in open column chromatography. One of the ethanolic fractions obtained from A. paniculata was evaluated for in vitro and in vivo activities using RPMI 1640 cell culture media and experimental wistar rats respectively. The fraction exhibited trypanocidal activity by completely clearing trypanosomes within 18h incubation when compared with standard control (diminazene diaceturate). Our findings from in vivo assay of the isolate on T. brucei brucei showed that trypanocidal activity is dose-dependent. Parasitic replication was faster among the experimental rats treated with lower concentrations in comparison with higher concentration. Moderate average packed cell volume (PCV) was recorded among the treated animals compared with the positive control. Three major absorption bands of interest in the fraction examined were 3268cm^-1, 2926 cm^-1 - 2855 cm^-1 and 1748 cm^-1 revealing the presence of O-H_str, C-H_str. and C=O_str. stretching vibrations. A. paniculata can be explored for development of new trypanocidal agent for the management of trypanosomiasis.