Abstract

The in vitro antitrypanosomal activity of methanolic and aqueous extracts of stem bark of Ximenia americana was evaluated on Trypanosoma congolense. Blood obtained from a highly infected mice with T. congolense (10⁷) was incubated with methanolic and aqueous extract at 20, 10 and 5mg/ml and Diminal^R (diminazene aceturate) at 200, 100 and 50 ug/ml in a 96 well micro titer plate. The results revealed that methanolic and aqueous extracts had activity at 20 and 10 mg/ml however, the methanolic extracts were more active than aqueous extract at 10 and 5 mg/ml. Phytochemical screening of the methanolic and aqueous extract of the bark showed that they both had flavonoids, anthraquinone, saponnin, terpenes and tannin. The aqueous and methanolic extract appears to show some potential activity against T. congolense.

Keyword: Ximenia americana, trypanocidal, Trypanosoma congolense