COMPARATIVE IN VITRO TRYPANOCIDAL ACTIVITIES OF N-HEXANE AND ETHYLACETATE EXTRACTS OF AZADIRACHTA INDICA (NEEM) ON TRYPANOSOMA BRUCEI BRUCEI

The parasitic disease known as trypanosomiasis, caused by protozoa of the genus Trypanosoma, remains a major health issue in sub-Saharan Africa, affecting both humans and animals. In this study, phytochemical analysis, antioxidant analysis (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power, 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, Inhibition of Lipid Peroxidation) and in vitro trypanocidal activities of n-hexane and ethylacetate extract of Azadirachta indica (neem) were carried out using standard methods. For in vitro analysis blood obtained from infected donor mice was diluted with glucose phosphate buffered saline to contain 1x103 parasites. Exactly 20 µl of the blood sample contained parasite was incubated with varying concentrations of 62.5 µg/ml, 125 µg/ml, 250 µg/ml and 500 µg/ml of n-hexane and ethylacetate extract of Azadirachta indica in separate microtitre plates for 190 minutes. The mixture was observed under microscope for parasite motility at 10 minutes intervals. Complete cessation of the parasite motility was observed for all test concentrations within 190 minutes of the study. The most active extract was ethylacetate extract of Azadirachta indica which causes complete cessation of the parasite motility within 50 minutes in 500µg/ml concentration. Whereas n-hexane extract of Azadirachta indica caused complete cessation of the parasite motility within 90 minutes in 500µg/ml concentration when compared with berenil that occurred within 10 minutes at 500µg/ml. These results showed that ethylacetate extract of Azadirachta indica has high trypanocidal activities when compared with N-Hexane extract of Azadirachta indica. Hence, ethylacetate extract of Azadirachta indica could explore further for the treatment of African Animal Trypanosomiasis.