Planta Med 2006; 72 - P_028
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-949828

Screening of medical plants from Mali for antitrypanosomal activity

B Aderbauer 1, PH Clausen 2, MF Melzig 1
  • 1Department of Pharmacy, Freie Universitaet Berlin, Koenigin-Luise-Str. 2 + 4, D-14195 Berlin, Germany
  • 2Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universitaet Berlin, Koenigsweg 67, D-14163 Berlin, Germany

Dichlormethane extracts of 50 plant parts collected in Mali, traditionally used against trypanosomes were investigated for their in vitro and in vivo activity against Trypanosoma brucei brucei. [1]. Six extracts showed high efficacy in vitro, using the Long-term Viability Assay (LtVA) [2] with MIC-values of 50µg/mL. Four extracts showed low cytotoxicity and good tolerance in mice and were tested in vivo using the standard mouse test by Eisler et al. (2001), [3].

The extracts of Guiera senegalensis J.F. leaves and of Securidaca longependunculata Fres. roots were able to reduce parasitaemia in mice treated at a dose of 150mg/kg b.w. (i.p., two times daily for three days) with a reduction in parasitaemia of 42 and 48.5% compared to the untreated control group. These extracts are now phytochemicallly analysed for active principles.

Acknowledgements: The authors thank Dr. Bizimana for providing the plant material and for technical support.

References: 1. Bizimana, N. et al. (2006), J. Ethnopharmacol. 103: 350–356. 2. Kaminsky, R. et al. (1989), Exp. Parasitol. 69: 281–289. 3. Eisler, M.C. et al. (2001), Vet. Parasitol. 97: 171–182.