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