Effects of n-hexane and ethylacetate fractions of Terminalia catappa leaf extract in experimental Trypanosoma brucei brucei infection in Wistar rats

Due to the toxic effects from using conventional trypanocidal drugs, there is need for development of safer alternatives to combat trypanosomosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of n-hexane and ethylacetate fractions of Terminalia catappa leaf extract in Wistar rats experimentally infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei . Forty-five (45) adult Wistar rats were divided into 9 groups (A–I) comprising of 5 rats each after acclimatisation for 7 days. Groups A-H were infected intraperitoneally with T. brucei brucei (day 0), treatment given to groups A–G at day 3 post-infection while group I were uninfected. Groups A, B and C are treated daily with 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg n-hexane fraction (HF); D, E and F treated daily with 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg ethylacetate fraction (EAF); and G treated with diminazene aceturate once. Blood was collected for parasitaemia determination and haematology. Results revealed parasitaemia detection by day 2 pi and complete clearance by day 10 pi in groups F and G, and 100% mortality in groups A and G. There was significant decrease in packed cells volume, haemoglobin concentration, red and total white blood cells in all infected groups by day 3 pi. Following treatment at day 10 pi, these haematological parameters significantly increase towards pre-infection values and were significantly higher in groups F and G compared to the other treatment groups. The ethylacetate fraction of Terminalia catappa leaf extract at 300 mg/kg exhibited in vivo trypanocidal activity similar to diminazene aceturate.