STUDIES ON THE EFFECTS OF LEAF EXTRACTS OF EUCALYPTUS CITRIODORA (HOOK) AND VERNONIA AMYGDALINA (DEL) ON EXPERIMENTAL SCHISTOSOMA MANSONI INFECTION IN MICE

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Date
2000-07
Authors
OGBOLI, AMBROSE UZOMAH
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Abstract
Nine leaf water extracts were tested for their ability to kill the human type Schistosoma mansoni cercariae in vitro by exposure of 10 cercariae each to dilutions of each extract at Img/ml, 3mg/ml and 5mg/ml. The time 100% mortality was attained for each extract was noted. The result show that the effect of plant water extracts was dose-dependent. The higher the dose the faster the killing time. The activity of the water extracts of Vernonia amygdalina was very potent while that of Eucalyptus citriodora was low. Ethanolic and petroleum ether extracts of both plants were made and their ability at 1mg/kg b.w dose to cure or protect male Swiss albino mice (20-25g; 7-8 weeks) against experimental Schistosoma mansoni infection was tested. Reduction in parasite load in mice was 100% and 70.58% for petroleum ether (PEEC) and ethanolic extracts (EEEC) of E.citriodora respectively. Petroleum ether (PEVA) and ethanolic (EEVA) extracts of V. amygdalina reduced the worm load in mice by 72.30% and 82.61 % respectively. Following the prophylactic application of the extracts, there was zero degree reduction of infection for both PEEC and EEEC while PEVA and EEVA reduced infection by 34.06% and 44.57% respectively. The difference in worm load between treated and non-treated control was significant (P<0.05) whereas differences in worm load was not significant (P>0.05) due to prophylactic application of extracts. Pathologically the infected not treated mice (positive control) had enlarged fatty, friable and mottled liver. The spleen and kidneys were congested and enlarged with severe enteritis. Mice treated with PEEC had normal liver, spleen and kidney but showed mild anaemia. PEVA, EEVA and EEEC treated mice showed enlarged haemorrhagic friable dark liver, enlarged spleen, enlarged kidney and slightly anaemic carcass. Prophylactic treatment showed similar pathological sign with the positive control. This study has shown that the plants tested have potentials to kill cercariae in vitro, cure and protect mice experimentally infected with human schistosome type cercariae.
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT FOR THE AWARD OF M.Sc DEGREE IN BIOLOGY JULY, 2000
Keywords
LEAF,, EXTRACTS,, EUCALYPTUS,, CITRIODORA,, VERNONIA,, AMYGDALINA,, EXPERIMENTAL,, SCHISTOSOMA,, MANSONI,, INFECTION,, MICE
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