The Effect of Garlic Extract on Experimental Trypanosoma brucei brucei Infections of Rabbits

Abstract

The anti-trypanosomal effect of aqueous and methanolic extracts of garlic were studied in Trypanosoma brucei brucei infected rabbits. With the establishment of infection, parasitaemia, anaemia, leucopenia, neutropenia and lymphocytosis developed. There was decrease in total serum protein, albumin and increase in cholesterol concentration. Treatment with aqueous and methanolic extracts of garlic had no significant effect on parasitaemia (p>0.05). Anaemia, leucopenia, neutropenia and lymphocytosis persisted. Administration of garlic extracts significantly elevated (p<0.05) total serum protein concentration, had no effect on serum albumin concentration and significantly decreased (p<0.05) serum cholesterol concentration at weeks 3, 4, 7 and 8 post-infection. It was concluded that the plant extracts had no direct curative effect on T. brucei brucei infection as there was no effect on parasitaemia. However, the extracts had positive effect in raising total serum protein, lymphocyte count and lowering serum cholesterol concentration.