In vitro trypanocidal effect of methanolic extract of Sclerocarya birrea, Commiphora kerstingii and Khaya senegalensis

The anti-trypanosomal activity of methanolic extract of Sclerocarya birrea, Commiphora kerstingii and Khaya senegalensis were evaluated against Trypanosoma brucei brucei in vitro at concentrations of 2 and 4 mg/ml. Susceptibility of the organism was determined in culture medium containing 5% dextrose and 0.9% saline solution alone as control and 2 and 4 mg/ml of these plants extracts in the same solution. Complete mortality of the organism was observed at almost all the concentrations within 30 min; the organism however survived for almost 3 h in the control test tube. The result suggests that S. birrea, C. kerstingii and K. sengalensis extracts may possess some trypanocidal principles which may require further elucidation.