Abstract

Using an in vitro experimental model, 1,3-diaminopropane and water, and methanol and dichloromethane extracts of Vernonia amygdalina (leaf) and Hymenocardia acida (leaf, stem bark, root bark) were screened for antitrypanosomal activity at concentrations of 0.25-4 mg/ml. Decrease or arrest of parasites motility coupled with loss of infectivity to mice was taken as the indicator of in vitro activity. The results obtained showed that only methanol extract of V. amygdalina leaf was active as it arrested parasites motility within 75 min of incubation with minimum inhibitory concentration of 444 µg/ml, and also caused loss of infectivity of the parasites to mice. Dichloromethane extract of H. acida root bark and 1, 3-diaminopropane slightly reduced parasites motility, while all other extracts neither reduced the motility nor caused loss of infectivity. These results suggest that the methanol extract ofV. amygdalina leaf possesses in vitro antitrypanosomal activity.

Key words: Antitrypanosomal activity, Infectivity, Vernonia amygdalina, Hymenocardiaacida, 1, 3-diaminopropane dihydrochloride.