Trypanocidal effects of Balanites aegyptiaca Del. (Zygophyllaceae) Leaf ‎Extract and Suramin on Trypanosoma evansi Experimental Infection in ‎Albino rat

Abstract

TTrypanosoma evansi, is one among several species of Trypanosomes responsible for a major protozoan parasitic disease of domestic animals. The current study aimed to investigate the trypanocidal effects of aqueous and methanolic leaf extracts of Balanites aegyptiacaDel (Zygophyllaceae) and suramin on albino rats infected with Trypanosoma evansi. In total, 35 Swiss albino rats randomly separated into seven (7) groups (A- G) of 5 rats each were intraperitoneally infected with 0.5 ml of blood containing 1.0 × 106trypanosomes and treated with the extracts and suramin for 7 days and single dose respectively by day 12 post infection (p.i). Clinical parameters and haematological indices were evaluated. Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed that Balanitesaegyptiaca contained the following metabolites: flavonoids, tannin, saponins, alkaloids, glycosides, steroids and volatile oils. There was marked initial reduction in Packed Cell Volume (PCV), Haemoglobin (Hb) and Red Blood Cells (RBCs) counts in the infected/untreated group (Group A) but following treatment with B. aegyptiaca leaf aqueous and methanolic extracts, these values were reversed. Furthermore, there was reversion of leukopenia after treatment of the rats individually with methanolic leaf extracts (150 mg/kg of B. aegyptiaca; Group B) from 3.47±1.49 × 103/mm3 by day 12 p.i. to 9.03±2.18 by day 40 p.i., similar to the pre-infection value. In conclusion, the infection caused clinical and haematological changes that were ameliorated following treatment with methanolic and aqueous leaf extract of B. aegyptiaca

Phytochemical Screening and Antidiabetic Efficacy of Balanites aegyptiaca Seed Extract and Their Silver Nanoparticles on Muscle and Pancreatic Cell Lines

“…Various secondary metabolites are present in Hinghot plants such as alkaloids, steroids, pregnane glycosides, saponins (furostanol, spirostanol and open-chain steroidal saponins) and polyphenols (flavonoids, coumarins, stilbenes, tannins lignins and phenolic acids) extracted out from the different plant tissue like stem bark, seeds, root, leaves fruits and galls . Many nonflavonoid polyphenols isolated from B. aegyptiaca are cinnamic acid, benzoic acid, p-coumaric acid, gentisic acid, vanillic acid, ferulic acid, syringic acid, sinapic acid, 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol, 2-methoxy-3­(−2- propenyl)-phenol, 2,6-dimethoxyphenol, 3-hydroxy-1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1-propanone, 2-methoxy-4-(1-propenyl)-phenol, 2,4-di tert -butyl-phenol 2,6-di tert -butyl-phenol and caffeic acids etc. − All these phytochemicals described are responsible for several medicinal properties like antioxidant, − antimicrobial, − anticancerous activities ,− antidiabetic ,, and several other protective activities.…”