Crude methanolic extract of <em>Moringa oleifera</em> leaves improves the efficacy of diminazene aceturate in the treatment of trypanosome infected rats

Abstract

A trypanocidal efficacy study of Moringa oleifera leaf supplement alone and in combination with diminazene aceturate on Wistar rats was conducted using Trypanosoma brucei. Thirty five rats were randomly allotted into seven groups (A-G) with include five rats each. Groups B and C were treated with methanolic extract of M. oleifera leaves at 200mg/kg for 14 days prior to infection. The E and F were treated with M. oleifera for 90 days at 200mg/kg prior to infection. Group A and G are negative and positive controls, respectively. All rats in groups, B -G were individually infected with 3x10 6 of Trypanosoma brucei per ml of blood and the prepatent period was monitored from the second day. At day five post infection, infected rats in group C, D and F were treated with diminazene aceturate at 7mg/kg while those in group B and E treated with M. oleifera leaf extract. Parasites were cleared within 72 hours post treatment from blood of rats in groups C and F which were treated with both M. aoleifera and diminazine aceturate. However, it took 96 hours post treatment for parasites to be cleared from rats in group D which was treated only with diminazene aceturate. There were significant (P<0.05) increase in the erythrocyte count, haematocrit and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) in M. oleifera treated groups. Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin (MCH) and Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) decreased significantly (P<0.05) in groups E, F and G. There was neutropenia in groups E, F and G when compared with the negative control, while other leucocytes manifested leukocytosis. Serum chemistry showed that all groups had significantly increased (P<0.05) globulin, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and liver enzymes when compared with the negative control group "A". Histopathological findings showed that congestion in the spleen and lymph nodes were reduced in the treated groups when compared to the untreated groups. Conclusively, our study gives credence that M. oleifera does not possess trypanocidal effect but however could be coadministered as a supportive.