In vitro studies on the anti-trypanosomal effect of Jatropha gossypiifolia var gossypiifolia

Abstract

The anti-trypanosomal potential of aqueous stem extract of Jatropha gossypiifolia var gossypiifolia was investigated in vitro and the resultant effect on the infectivity of Trypanosoma congolense in Wistar rats was evaluated. Motility and mortality of the parasite was monitored over different incubation periods (0 min. - 1 hr 45 min at 37℃) with serial concentrations of the extract (6.25 mg/ml, 12.5 mg/ml, 25.0 mg/ml, 50.0 mg/ml and 100 mg/ml) prepared in phosphate buffered saline (PBS, pH 7.2). Activity was recorded at the higher concentrations when compared with the standard drug, isometamidium chloride (samorin MERIAL). This dose dependent activity delayed the onset/establishment of T. congolense infection in infectivity test in rats with resultant increase in prepatent period. This suggests possible anti-trypanosomal effect of this extract in vivo.