PHYTOCHEMISTRY, TOXICITY AND EFFICACY OF CRUDE AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF CARICA PAPAYA LEAF AGAINST TRYPANOSOMA BRUCEI

The aqueous extract of Carica papaya leaf was evaluated for its phytochemistry, acute toxicity and in vitro antitrypanosomal efficacy in this study. A total of 15 albino rats grouped into 5(A-E) of 3 rats each were intraperitoneally treated with graded doses of 100, 200, 400, 800mg/kg body weight of the aqueous extract and observed for 24 hours for clinical signs and death. The calculated median lethal dose (LD 50 ) was 600mg/kg body weight, with clinical signs of sluggishness, awkward pasture, loss of appetite, starry hair coat and terminal death within 24 hours. Severity of clinical signs varied with increasing doses. The in vitro antitrypanosomal efficacy of the aqueous extract showed 100% inhibition of Trypanosoma brucei at concentrations of 40mg/ml, 20mg/ml, 10mg/ml, 5mg/ml and 2.5mg/ml respectively. In conclusion the aqueous extract of C. papaya leaf has bioactive components that are moderately toxic and has trypanosomal inhibitory activity.