title: In vitro and in vivo evaluation of the antitrypanosomal activity of fractions of Holarrhena africana.
abstract: The aqueous extract of young leaves of Holarrhena africana, a plant used in the Nigerian traditional medicine, exhibited good activity against Trypanosoma brucei spp. The extract was fractionated and eight fractions were obtained. One fraction designated as HaF(5) showed in vitro activity against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense with an IC(50) value of 0.785 microg/mg and no overt cytotoxicity against L-6 cells. Fraction HaF(5) was tested in vivo at two doses and found to exhibit in vivo efficacy in Trypanosoma brucei brucei infected mice leading to a complete disappearance of parasitaemia followed by a relapse.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Nwodo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brun
authors.forename: P O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Osadebe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D035462:Holarrhena / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D051379:Mice; D009549:Nigeria; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014346:Trypanosoma brucei brucei / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D016833:Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense / Q000187:drug effects*; D014353:Trypanosomiasis, African / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents