title: Effects of Morinda lucida leaf extract on Trypanosoma brucei brucei infection in mice.
abstract: The dried leaves of Morinda lucida were extracted with 50% methanol and the extract was recovered in a 9.7% w/w yield. Acute toxicity tests were performed in mice and the intraperitoneal LD50 of the extract was 2000 mg/kg. The extract induced purgation in mice from the first hour after oral administration and reached its peak between the third and fourth hour. The purgation was not dose-dependent. M. lucida leaf extract i.p. significantly suppressed the level of parasitemia after Trypanosoma brucei infection in mice. Suppression of existing parasitemia appeared dose-dependent with 1000 mg/kg i.p. producing the maximum effect. The best trypanocidal activity was obtained when treatment with M. lucida extract commenced simultaneously with trypanosome inoculation.
authors: Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
authors: I U
authors: IU
authors: Asuzu
authors: C N
authors: CN
authors: Chineme
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity; D014346:Trypanosoma brucei brucei / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014353:Trypanosomiasis, African / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents