In vivo Trypanocidal Activity of Ethanolic Crude Extract and Phytochemical Fractions of Garcinia kola Seeds

Aim: To determine the trypanocidal activity of the crude ethanolic extract and phytochemical fractions of Garcinia kola seeds in Trypanosoma brucei brucei infected rats.
Study Design: Trypanosoma brucei brucei infected rats were treated with the ethanolic crude extract, alkaloid, flavonoid, saponin and cardiac glycoside fractions of Garcinia kola seeds. Parasitaemia and Packed cell volume (PCV) were measured.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Biochemistry, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria between June and October 2011.
Methodology: 11 groups of four rats each were used. Group A rats were infected but not treated. Groups B, C, D, E and F were infected but treated with 50mg/kg crude extract, alkaloid, flavonoid, saponin and cardiac glycoside fractions respectively, while groups G, H, I, J and K were infected but treated with 100mg/kg of the extracts respectively. Parasitaemia levels of rats were observed daily under Light microscope at x100 magnification. PCV values were determined on days 4 and 8 using microhaematocrit centrifuge at 10,000xg for 5 min.
Results: At 50mg/kg the crude extract brought about a 37.50% reduction in the parasitaemia of infected rats, the alkaloid fraction 76.70%, flavonoid fraction 53.45% and saponin fraction 76.70%. At 100mg/kg the crude extract and the alkaloid, flavonoid and saponin fractions reduced parasitaemia of infected rats by 84.50%, 92.25%, 61.20% and 68.98% respectively. Treatment with the cardiac glycoside fraction showed no improvement in parasitaemia. Significant increases (P=.05) in PCV values were observed in all the treated groups on days 4 and 8 when compared with the untreated ones.
Conclusion: Available results from this research shows that ethanolic crude extract of Garcinia kola seeds and its alkaloid, flavonoid and saponin fractions at 50 and 100mg/kg demonstrated activities against Trypanosoma brucei brucei in rats.