ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIAL OF WALTHERIA INDICA METHANOL LEAF EXTRACT IN TRYPANOSOMA BRUCEI BRUCEI INFECTED MICE

Abstract

African Trypanosomiasis is caused by protozoan parasites transmitted by tsetse flies, which is an important neglected tropical disease endemic in remote regions of sub-Saharan Africa. The search for alternative antitrypanosomal drugs has become imperative due to limitations associated with commonly used conventional drugs. In the present study, antitrypanosomal and antioxidant activities of Waltheria indica were evaluated in T. brucei infected mice. Thirty mice were intraperitoneally infected with T. brucei and were randomly selected into five groups of 6 mice each. Group A -C were treated with 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg bw methanol extract of Waltheria indica respectively, while groups D and E serve as untreated control and standard control (3.5mg/kg diminazene aceturate) respectively. Daily parasitaemia counts were carried out. The Packed Cell Volume (PCV) and the weight changes of the animals were also monitored. Serum and liver superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and glutathione (GSH) activities were evaluated after treatment. The results revealed a progressive increase in parasitaemia count (2.50±0.05 to 160.34±12.78) with decrease body weight and PCV of infected untreated mice. The mice treated with 200 mg/g kg (3.84±0.55 to 79.45±6.32), 400 mg/g (3.10±0.55 to 29.56±6.54 and 600mg/kg bw (2.94±0.32 to 18.35±4.94) of methanol extract of Waltheria indica produced dose dependent decrease in parasite multiplication and improvement in body weight and PCV when compared with untreated control. Waltheria indica was found to high DPPH radical scavenging activity with IC50 39.41 and it reducing power activity was also analyzed. The serum and liver SOD activities, serum catalase and liver GSH activities were significantly (p<0.05) lower in infected untreated mice when compared with normal control. Treatment with the extract significantly (p<0.05) increases the activities of these enzymes when compared with the untreated control. It is concluded that methanol extract of Waltheria indica inhibited T.brucei replication and ameliorated the parasites induced anemia and oxidative stress in mice. Therefore, could be useful for management of African trypanosomiasis.