ABSTRACT

This study was aimed at investigating antitrypanosomal activities and haematological profile of crude extract and fractions of the stem bark of Acacia nilotica and Khaya senegalensis plants against Trypanosoma brucei brucei infected Wistar rats with a view to determining the phytochemical constituents and LD50 of Acacia nilotica and Khaya senegalensis, antitrypanosomal activities of crude extract of Acacia nilotica and Khaya senegalensis against Trypanosoma brucei brucei infected Wistar rats, antitrypanosomal activities of the plant fractions administered to Trypanosoma brucei brucei infected Wistar rats and haematological profile of Trypanosoma brucei brucei infected Wistar rats, before and after administration of crude extract and fractions. The phytochemical constituents and toxicity of the stem bark of both plants were determined by the standard method and the LD50respectively. The methanolic extracts and fractions of the plants was administered to the Wistar rats intraperitoneally daily and the parasitaemia count was determined using the rapid matching method. PCV, WBC and differential counts were determined before and after the administration to ascertain any significant differences. The phytochemical constituents of the stem barks of Acacia nilotica and Khaya senegalensis crude extracts and fractions revealed the following secondary metabolites; Alkaloids, tannins, glycosides, cardiac glycosides, saponins, triterpene, carbohydrates and flavonoids. The LD50 for the crude extract of the stem bark of Acacia nilotica was 707.1mg/kg body weight while the LD50 for the fractions (N-hexane, ethyl acetate and N-butane) was 547.7 mg/kg, 387.3 mg/kg and 707.1 mg/kg body weight respectively. The LD50 for the crude extract of the stem bark of Khaya senegalensis was 547.7mg/kg body weight while the LD50 for the fractions (N-hexane, ethyl acetate and N-butane) was 387.3 mg/kg, 547.7 mg/kg and 223.6 mg/kg body weight respectively. The stem barks of Acacia nilotica and Khaya senegalensis crude extracts (100, 200, 300 and 400mg/kg body weight) and fractions (50, 100, 150 and 200mg/kg body weight) had