Anti-trypanosomal and hepato-toxicity potentials of Lantana camara (Verbenaceae) leaf extracts in albino rats challenged with Trypanosoma brucei

Trypanosomiasis remains a major veterinary and public health concern in sub-Saharan Africa, necessitating the exploration of alternative therapeutic agents. This study investigated the anti-trypanosomal and potential toxic properties of Lantana camara extracts in albino rats infected with Trypanosoma brucei. A total of one hundred and thirty-five (135) all-male rats, constituted the study population. They were randomly divided into fifteen (15) groups (A, B, C, D1, D2, D3, E1, E2, E3, F1, F2, F3 and G1, G2, G3) of nine (9) rats per group. Each treatment group consisted of three replicate experiments. Group A was normal control (uninfected and untreated); group B was a negative control (infected and untreated); Group C were administered a standard drug (Diaminazine aceturate); Groups D, E, F and G were treated with different concentrations of aqueous, n-hexane, ethyl acetate and methanolic extracts of L. camara respectively were administered orally once daily for 21 days (3 weeks) using oral gavage. Blood samples were collected once every week for three weeks. The study found that L. camara leaf extracts effectively cleared the parasite from infected rats, indicating their efficacy as an anti-trypanosomal agent. Treatments with diminazene aceturate and L. camara leaf extracts significantly retarded the disease-induced increase in serum AST (44.33 ± 2.19), ALT (41.33 ± 0.88), and ALP (25.88 ± 0.78) compared to the untreated control group (55.33 ± 4.06) (52.00 ± 2.52) (32.49 ± 1.25). Total protein concentration decreased in the negative control (3.98 ± 0.21) group with the extract groups (5.21 ± 0.15) (5.44 ± 0.30) (6.22 ± 0.22) (6.19 ± 0.21). The study concluded that extracts possess anti-trypanosomal hepatoprotective.