title: Effect of crude extracts of Moringa stenopetala and Artemisia absinthium on parasitaemia of mice infected with Trypanosoma congolense.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Treatment of trypanosomosis is currently facing a number of problems including toxicity of trypanocidal drugs and development of resistance by the parasites. These limitations have prompted the search for alternative active substances (such as of natural origin). The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of extracts of Moringa stenopetala and Artemisia absinthium on Trypanosoma congolense in mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Swiss white male mice aged 8-12 weeks were divided into six experimental groups of six animals. Water and methanol extracts of the two plants were prepared. T. congolense was isolated from cattle at Ghibe valley (Ethiopia). All experimental mice received approximately 1 x 10(5) trypanosomes in 0.2 ml of blood. Plant extracts were given orally to four groups (2 plant species and two extraction methods) at 400 mg/kg body weight for seven consecutive days. One group remained as distilled water treated control and the other as diminzene aceturate treated control. The effect of the extracts on levels of parasitaemia, body weight, packed cell volume (PCV) and mice survival was monitored for 25 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All treatments have significantly reduced parasitaemia and helped improve body weight, PCV and survival of mice compared to the water-treated control (P < 0.01 in all cases). These effects were comparable to that with diminazene aceturate. No significant difference was observed in the reduction of parasitaemia between plant extract treatment groups. However, mice with extracts of A. absinthium had significantly higher body weight than those with extracts of M. stenopetala (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The two plants have antitrypanosomal potential against T. congolense by reducing the levels of parasitaemia, maintaining good PCV and body weight, and prolonging the lives of infected animals.
authors: Tsegabirhan
authors: T
authors: Kifleyohannes
authors: Getachew
authors: G
authors: Terefe
authors: Yacob H
authors: YH
authors: Tolossa
authors: Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P, O, Box 1176, Ethiopia. mirutseg@yahoo.com.
authors: Mirutse
authors: M
authors: Giday
authors: Nigatu
authors: N
authors: Kebede
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D031171:Artemisia absinthium / Q000737:chemistry*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000469:parasitology; D006400:Hematocrit; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D000432:Methanol / Q000737:chemistry; D051379:Mice; D029587:Moringa / Q000737:chemistry*; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D014348:Trypanosoma congolense / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents; D014867:Water; D000432:Methanol