In vivo anti-typhoid and safety evaluation of extracts of Ximenia americana on experimental rats

Abstract

Typhoid fever is an infectious disease of serious public health concern. The anti-typhoid efficacy and safety of Ximenia americana stem bark extracts on the nephrocytes, hepatocytes, and haematological parameters of Salmonella typhi infected Wistar albino rats was evaluated. Experimental rats in their respective groups were infected with S. typhi via oral administration of infective dose (0.5 ml of 1.5 × 104 cfu/ml) of cultured S. typhi, while group 1 were uninfected. Group 2 were untreated, group 3 were treated with the standard drug (ciprofloxacin), while groups 4, 5, 6 were treated with (100, 200, 300 mg/kg) body weight of the methanol extract of X. americana stem bark, and groups 7, 8 and 9 were treated with (100, 200, 300 mg/kg) body weight of the ethyl-acetate fraction of X. americana stem bark administered orally for 7 days. Acute toxicity test was carried out using standard methods and signs accompanying toxicity such as drowsiness, respiratory distress, diarrhoea, and possible death of animals were monitored for 24 h in an interval of 2 h. Physical parameters were also monitored to check symptom amelioration as the treatment progresses. Acute toxicity test showed that experimental rats administered the methanol extract and ethyl-acetate fraction of X. americana had no clinical signs of toxicity such as drowsiness, respiratory distress, diarrhoea, and death. The Physical examination of rats in all the treatment groups showed improvement in symptoms following Salmonella infection as treatment progressed when compared to the untreated group. Salmonella infection led to a significant (p < 0.05) increase in serum urea, sodium, chloride levels, bilirubin concentration, total white cell count and activities of the liver enzymes as compared to normal and apparently healthy rats. A significant (p < 0.05) decrease in PCV, haemoglobin concentration, RBC count, serum potassium, total protein and creatinine levels of the infected groups was observed as compared to the normal uninfected group. The methanol extract at the dose of 300 mg/kg body weight had 15%, 37%, 52% reduction in sodium, urea, and alkaline phosphatase respectively and 57% increase in potassium while the ethyl-acetate fraction (300 mg/kg body weight) had 46% and 47% increase in PCV and haemoglobin and 36% reduction in ALT. The administration of the methanol extract and ethyl-acetate fraction of X. americana was accompanied by a significant (p < 0.05) dose dependent decrease in serum electrolytes and alkaline phosphatase in the treated groups. X. americana could be a safe natural alternative therapeutic source for enteric fever management.