Effect of crude methanol extract of Senna occodentalis on haematological parameters of wistar rats experimentally infected with Trypanosoma congolense

Abstract

The study was aimed at investigating the effect of crude methanol leaves extract of Senna occidentalis on haematological parameters of wistar rats with experimental Trypanosoma congolense infection. The phytochemical screening test was conducted on the extract using standard procedure. Acute toxicity study was carried out and the LD50 was found to be ≥ 5000 mg/kg. Thirty wistar rats were used in this study, and they were divided into six groups of five rats each. Rats in group 1 were untreated uninfected (neutral control). Groups 2-6 received intraperitoneal injection of Trypanosoma congolense (105 trypanosomes/ml of blood). Parasitaemia was established 8 days post infection. Rats in groups 2, 3 and 4 were orally treated with 100, 400 and 600 mg/kg body weight of the extract respectively for ten days. Rats in group 5 were treated with diminazene aceturates (3.5 mg/kg, i.p) once. Rats in group 6 were treated with normal saline for ten days. The level of parasitaemia and haematological parameters were determined. At doses 100, 400 and 600 mg/kg body weight the extract showed significant (P < 0.05) reduction in the level of parasitaemia in wistar rats when compared to rats infected and treated with normal saline ( group 6). The parasites were completely cleared from the blood stream of rats treated with diminazene aceturates (3.5 mg/kg) 24 hours following treatment, and the rats remain aparasitaemic. Packed Cell Volume (PCV), Haemoglobin (Hb) concentration and Red Blood Cell (RBC) count significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in rats treated with normal saline ( group 6) when compared to extract treated groups. Total white blood cell count significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in rats treated with normal saline (group 6). In general, the results obtained suggest ethno-pharmacological usefulness of the plant and necessitate further studies to be carried on the isolated active substances from the plant.