In-vivo anti-trypanosomal and antioxidant potential of aqueous extract from Allium sativum bulb in Trypanosomal congolense infected mice

Trypanosomes are causative agent of trypanosomiasis, which is transmitted by tsetse fly. Trypanosomiasis is characterized by intermittent fever, anaemia, and frequent diarrhoea. The main purpose of the research was to ascertain the in vivo anti trypanosomal and antioxidant property of aqueous extract from Allium sativum bulb on Trypanosoma congolense infected mice. The acute toxicity study of A. sativum was also determined using Lorke’s method, where different extract doses (10 mg/kg to 5000 mg/kg body weight (b/w)) were administered orally. The anti-trypanosomal, DPPH antioxidant activity and hematological studies were also deduced using standard methods. The acute toxicity recorded zero death both in phase I and phase II after a day (24 hours), and the lethal dose (LD50) was greater than 5000 mg/kg bw. Mean parasitemia count, packed cell volume (PCV) and body weight (kg) were monitored in anti-trypanosomal screening at doses of 100, 250, and 500 mg/kg bw (treatment group) including positive and negative control group which had been given standard drug (diaminazine aceturate) and water respectively. Among the treatment groups, 500 mg/kg bw was highly effective in all the screened parameters. However, the hematological screening after the treatment days (16 days) showed that, PCV (36.00±2.00b %; normal range: 35-45 %) and RBC (9.48±0.53c cells/µl of blood; normal range: 5.50-10.20×106 cells/µl of blood) recorded the highest values in extract dose of 500 mg/kg bw. DPPH antioxidant showed IC₅₀ of 56.19±0.00d and 38.07±0.00a in garlic and vitamin C respectively. These results signify that A. sativum may have high efficacy as anti-trypanosomal agents, which could be used as an alternative drug in the management of trypanosomiasis.