Phytochemical Constituent and Antitrypanosomal Potential of Waltheria indica and Abrus precatorius Methanol Leaf Extract.

Abstract

African Trypanosomiasis also known as sleeping sickness threatens millions of people in sub-saharan Africa especially the poor populace. Available trypanocides are faced with the problem of toxicity, adverse reaction, complex administration and cost. The study was designed to determine the phytochemical compositions and Antitrypanosomal activities of methanol extracts of Waltheria indica and Abrus precatorius in Trypanosoma bricei brucei infected mice. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids (988.92±5.49), phenols (270.38±4.10), tannins (12.54±1.21), saponins (237.50±30.00), alkaloids (29.32±0.33) in Waltheria indica methanol extract while Abrus precatorius methanol extract was found to contain flavonoids (60.97±3.20), phenols (121.95±11.36), tannins (129.12±9.30), saponins (202.25±9.25), alkaloids (9.69±0.34). The acute toxicity study of methanol extracts of Waltheria indica and Abrus precatorius had LD50 >5000 mg/kgbw. The % suppression of trypanosomes in circulation were 25%, 48.1%, 56.9% and 25%, 55.6%, 61.3% at 200, 400 and 600 mg/kgbw for Waltheria indica and Abrus precatorius respectively. However, the % suppression obtained with the two extracts were significantly lower than what was observed with the group treated with standard drug Berenil (100%) but survived longer than the untreated group. The result of this study shows that the two plant may contain phytoconstituents with the potentials to suppress parasite proliferation in experimental animals trypanosomiasis.