In Vivo Antitrypanosomal Activities of Methanolic Extract of Lawsonia inermis Linn. Leaves on Trypanosome Brucei Infected Wistar Rat

Background: Trypanosomiasis is a major disease affecting both humans and animals. Nearly 30000 individuals in various countries of sub-Saharan Africa have African trypanosomiasis, which leads to approximately 21000 deaths annually. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the anti-trypanocidal effects of Lawsonia inermis (LI) in rats infected with Trypanosome Brucei. Methods: Thirty rats were allotted to groups (1-5), six rats each: Group 1 (negative control), 2 (tryps control), 3 (diminazene [DA] 7 mg/kg), 4 (LI at 200 mg/kg) and 5 (DA+LI). All rats in groups (2-5) were infected with 3×106 Trypanosoma brucei per milliliter of blood. Results: The percentage weight gain of rats in the DA extract combination group showed increased weight gain (6.3%) compared to tryps-control. DA showed significant weight gain compared to the negative control. The survivability rate showed that the DA, LI and DA+LI combinations survived for 14 days without visible relapse. The packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell (RBC), white blood cell (WBC), platelet and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) increased significantly in the extract-treated groups. In contrast, mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) decreased significantly. Lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils showed significantly more growth than those in the control group. Globulin, aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and blood urea nitrogen increased non-significantly. Creatinine and total bilirubin levels were significantly decreased compared to those in the untreated control. LI significantly increased glutathione (GSH), glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and decreased MDA and inflammatory cytokines (interleukin [IL]-1, 6 and 12) compared to the untreated control groups. Conclusion: LI reduced parasitemia in the transient phase, and the drug-extract combination cleared parasitemia quickly.