Antitrypanosomal effects of methanolic extracts of Nuclea diderrichii (Merr.) and Spathodea campanulata stem bark

An in vivo study was carried out to determine the antitrypanosomal effects of methanolic extracts of the stem barks of Nauclea diderrichii (Merr) and Spathodea campanulata using Trypanosoma brucei brucei - infected mice. The antitrypanosomal effects of these plant parts were determined using rapid “matching” method. The effect of the extracts in vivo was determined based on the changes in the level of parasitaemia, PCV and weights of the mice. The stem bark extract of Spathodea campanulata showed moderate but significant reduction in parasitaemia level, 8 days post infection. Also, the extract of Nauclea diderrichii (Merr) showed very mild reduction in the parasitaemia level, 12 days post infection which relapsed on the 12th day. The PCV and the weight of the mice decreased upon infection with Trypanosoma brucei brucei . The oral toxicity of the extract was also determined. The phytochemical analysis of revealed mainly the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenes and glycosides. Keywords : In vivo , Nauclea diderrichii (Merr), Spathodea campanulata, Trypanosoma brucei brucei Journal of Pharmaceutical and Allied Sciences , Vol. 7 No. 5 (2010)