2 research outputs found
In vitro and in vivo antitrypanosomal activity of the fresh leaves of Ranunculus Multifidus Forsk and its major compound anemonin against Trypanosoma congolense field isolate
Abstract Background Animal trypanosomiasis is a major livestock problem due to its socioeconomic impacts in tropical countries. Currently used trypanocides are toxic, expensive, and the parasites have developed resistance to the existing drugs, which calls for an urgent need of new effective and safe chemotherapeutic agents from alternative sources such as medicinal plants. In Ethiopian traditional medicine fresh leaves of Ranunculus multifidus Forsk, are used for the treatment of animal trypanosomiasis. The present study aimed to evaluate the antitrypanosomal activity of the fresh leaves of R. multifidus and its major compound anemonin against Trypanosoma congolense field isolate. Methods Fresh leaves of R. multifidus were extracted by maceration with 80% methanol and hydro-distillation to obtain the corresponding extracts. Anemonin was isolated from the hydro-distilled extract by preparative TLC. For the in vitro assay, 0.1, 0.4, 2 and 4Â mg/ml of the test substances were incubated with parasites and cessation or drop in motility of the parasites was monitored for a total duration of 1Â h. In the in vivo assay, the test substances were administered intraperitoneally daily for 7Â days to mice infected with Trypanosoma congolense. Diminazene aceturate and 1% dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) were used as positive and negative controls, respectively. Results Both extracts showed antitrypanosomal activity although the hydro-distilled extract demonstrated superior activity compared to the hydroalcoholic extract. At a concentration of 4Â mg/ml, the hydro-distilled extract drastically reduced motility of trypanosomes within 20Â min. Similarly, anemonin at the same concentration completely immobilized trypanosomes within 5Â min of incubation, while diminazene aceturate (28.00Â mg/kg/day) immobilized the parasites within 10Â min. In the in vivo antitrypanosomal assay, anemonin eliminates parasites at all the tested doses (8.75, 17.00 and 35.00Â mg/kg/day) and prevented relapse, while in diminazene aceturate-treated mice the parasites reappeared on days 12 to 14. Conclusions The current study demonstrated that the fresh leaves of R. multifidus possess genuine antitrypanosomal activity supporting the use of the plant for the treatment of animal trypanosomiasis in traditional medicine. Furthermore, anemonin appears to be responsible for the activity suggesting its potential as a scaffold for the development of safe and cost effective antitrypanosomal agent