Trypanocidal effect of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Strychnos spinosa on white mice infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei

The emergence of trypanocidal resistance has led to a change in the behavior and use of local plants for the treatment of parasites. The trypanocidal activity of Strychnos spinosa aqueous and ethanolic extracts on Trypanosoma brucei brucei was evaluated during ten days of treatment. Thus, the smear was used to monitor the parasitaemia of mice treated with Strychnos spinose aqueous and ethanolic extracts by gavage at doses of 250, 500, 1000 mg/kg (test groups); with 10 ml/kg of distilled water (negative control) and 1mg/kg of isometamidium chloride (positive control). The results of the pharmacological studies on the trypanocidal potential of the plant showed that On day ten (D10) a mortality rates of 32 %, 39 % and 62 % respectively for the doses 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg with the ethanolic extract while the aqueous extract induced a mortality rates of 32 %, 37 % and 56 % respectively. Isometamidium chloride induced the highest mortality rate of 85 %. The lethal doses were 218.07 and 225.79 mg/kg for the aqueous and ethanolic extracts respectively. All these results justify at least in part the use of this plant in traditional medicine for the treatment of trypanosomiasis. Keywords: Ethanolic extracts - Aqueous extracts - Trypanocidal potential - Trypanosomes - Inhibition of parasitaemia.