The efficacy of Maytenus senegalensis (L) extracts on experimentally infected rats with Schistosoma mansoni

Maytenus senegalensis extracts, were tested on 3-4 weeks old rats, infected with Schistosoma mansoni cercariae. Oral treatments of three batches of rats with plant extracts of cold water, acetone and methanol were administered at 40g/kg body weight gave a cure rate ranging from 91.56% to 87.76% in rats; while praziquantel administered at 60mg/kg body weight gave a cure rate of 87.76%. These results show statistically significant difference (P<0.05). The therapeutic nature of the extracts and praziquantel reduced the pathological conditions of infected treated animals as evident by mottling of the liver with mean liver mottling score of 4.4 and 4.6 granolumas recorded and the level of damages done on organs and viscera in rats for M. senegalensis. Prazaiquantel gave similar value of 4.4 and 4.6 in rats. There was no significant difference between therapeutic scores of plant extracts and praziquantel (P<0.05) as shown by the pathological changes observed in the test animals.