Comparative in-Vitro Trypanocidal Activities of N-Hexane and Ethylacetate Extract of Calotropis Procera on Trypanosoma Brucei Brucei

ABSTRACT
Trypanosomiasis is a disease caused by protozoan parasite belonging to the genus trypanosoma. The disease affects both humans and animals in Sub-Saharan of Africa. In this study, phytochemical analysis and in vitro trypanocidal activities of N-hexane and ethylacetate extract of the Calotropis procera leaves were carried out using standard methods. Exactly 20 µl of blood that was obtained from infected donor mice through the tail was diluted with normal saline to form 1 x 103 of parasite load was incubated with 62.5 µg/ml, 125 µg/ml, 250 µg/ml and 500 µg/ml of the N-hexane and ethylacetate extract of the Calotropis procera leaves for 190 minutes. The mixtures were observed under microscope for the motility of parasites at 10 minutes interval. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of phenols, alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids and tannins in both plants extracts. The plant extracts showed significant cessation of parasite motility with increase in time and concentration of the extract. Complete cessation of the parasite motility was observed for all extract within 190 minutes of the study. The most active extract was ethylacetate extract of Calotropis procera which causes complete cessation of the parasite motility within 30 minutes in 500 µg/ml concentration. Whereas N-hexane extract of Calotropis procera caused complete cessation of the parasite motility within 90 minutes in 500 µg/ml concentration when compared with berenil that caused cessation of trypanosomal activity at 10 minutes at 500 µg/ml. These results showed that ethylacetate extract of Calotropis procera has high trypanocidal activities when compared with N-hexane extract of Calotropis procera. Hence, ethylacetate extract of Calotropis procera could be explore further for the treatment of African animal trypanosomiasis.