title: Lactone-rich fraction from Vernonia blumeoides: antitrypanosomal activity and alleviation of the parasite-induced anemia and organ damage.
abstract: The anti-Trypanosoma brucei brucei activity in vitro and in vivo of a lactone-rich fraction of Vernonia blumeoides leaves (VBLF) and its potential in alleviating trypanosome-induced anemia and organ damage were investigated. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of VBLF revealed the presence of a number of lactone-containing compounds. In an in vitro study, VBLF showed concentration-dependent activity and was further used to treat T. brucei brucei-infected rats. The VBLF treatments, especially at 300 mg/kg body weight (BW), significantly (P < 0.05) kept the parasites reduced during the entire experimental period compared with the infected untreated group. At the end of the experiment, the trypanosome-induced anemia and hepatic damage were significantly (P < 0.05) alleviated in all the VBLF treatment groups, but renal damage was only prevented in the 200 and 300 mg/kg BW treatment groups. Furthermore, the trypanosome-induced increase in the relative weights of liver, spleen and kidney were significantly (P < 0.05) alleviated by the 300 mg/kg BW VBLF treatment. It was concluded that orally administered VBLF, especially at 300 mg/kg BW, possessed antitrypanosomal activity and could alleviate parasite-induced anemia and organ damage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria, mauwalibrahim@gmail.com.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Aliyu
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abdullahi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Solomon
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Toko
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garba
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bashir
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Habila
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007783:Lactones / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014346:Trypanosoma brucei brucei / Q000187:drug effects*; D014353:Trypanosomiasis, African / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D035741:Vernonia / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D007783:Lactones; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents