In Vitro Antitrypanosomal Activity of Ocimum gratissimum Leaf Methanol Extract Against Trypanosoma brucei brucei

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the antitrypanosomal activity of the leaf methanol extract from Ocimum gratissimum against the pathogenic protozoan Trypanosoma brucei brucei. The leaf methanol extract was prepared by macerating the leaves extracting the macerates in methanol; filtering the extract and evaporating the resulting filtrate to dryness. The antitrypanosomal activity was assessed using a bioassay guided principles and was expressed as percentage growth inhibition. The results showed that O. gratissimum leaf extract obtained from Okene has antitrypanosomal activity as reflected in its IC 50 1.02±0.002 µg/ml. This indicates that the methanol extract of O. gratissimum leaf possess antitrypanosomal activity against T. brucei brucei. It is recommended that this plant should be considered and included among ethnomedicinal plants used against trypanosomiasis in Nigeria. It is also recommended that further investigations are needed to determine the active components of this plant extract that are responsible for the observed antitrypanosomal activity.

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