Antitrypanosomal activity of anogeissus leiocarpus in rats infected with trypanosoma brucei brucei

Aqueous and methanol extracts of different parts of Anogeissus leiocarpus were analyzed for in vitro antitrypanosomal activity against Trypanosoma brucei brucei. The methanolic extract of the bark which had the highest in vitro activity against the parasite was selected for the in vivo analysis. Oral treatment with the methanolic bark extract to experimental rats at different doses (100,200mg/kg/day) for seven days did not clear the parasitemia. However, rats treated with 200 mg/kg/day survived longer than the infected control group. The results were discussed in respect to traditional treatment of trypanosomiasis.