Abstract

In an attempt to search for new eco-friendly trypanocidal drugs, water and methanol extracts were prepared from three medicinal plants used by herbalists in Nigeria for the treatment of malaria and other ailments. The different portions of the extracts were incubated at various concentrations, 2, 4, 8, 10 mg/ml withTrypanosoma evansi. The results revealed that Khaya senegalensis and Anonna senegalensis were able to immobilize the parasites at 10 mg/ml while Prosopis africana did not show any activity. Phytochemical profile of the plants showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponnins and cardiac glycosides. The results obtained with these crude extracts showed that these plants are potential sources of trypanocidal drugs/chemical leads.

Key words: Antitrypanosomal activity, Khaya senegalensis, Anonna senegalensis, Prosopis africana, Trypanosoma evansi.