Therapeutic Effect of Aristolochia bractealata Extract Against Experimental Trypanosoma evansi Infection

Aristolochia bracteolata of the family Aristolochiaceae, which was reported in the treatment of malaria and sleeping sickness, was evaluated for its in vivo activity against Trypanosoma evansi infection in rats. Six groups of 10 rats each aged 5-7 weeks, average weight 150 grams were used. The plant extract was administered orally at dose rates of 250 and 500 mg kg-1 BW for both the chloroformic and methanolic extract. The activity was compared to Cymelarsan which was given at a dose rate of 2.5 mg kg-1 BW subcutanously. Results showed that the plant extract gave a promising trypansocidal effect. The chloroformic extract gave better result than that of the methanolic extract with both doses. Its use as a new trypanocidal preparation needs further work to identify the bio-active agent(s).