ANTITRYPANOSOMAL ACTIVITY OF METHANOL LEAF EXTRACT OF OLAX SUBSCORPIOIDEA IN TRYPANOSOMA BRUCEI INFECTED WEST AFRICAN DWARF GOATS; GCMS AND MOLECULAR DOCKING STUDY

Onyeabor A., Igwe K. K.*, Madubuike A. J., Nnadozie O., Ezeokonkwo R. C., Otuokere I. E., Egwu L. U. and Chika Ikenga

ABSTRACT

The development of livestock industry in Sub- Saharan Africa has been greatly limited by the menace of African trypanosomiasis. This study evaluated the antitrypanosomal effects of hydromethanolextract of Olax subscorpioidea in West African dwarf goats infected with Trypanosoma brucei. Thirty WAD goats were randomly assigned to six groups (n=5). On day zero, groups 1-5 were infected with Trypanosoma brucei, while group 6 was uninfected. On day 7, after establishing log of parasitaemia, groups 1-3 received extract at a dose of 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg respectively, while group 4 received diaminazene aceturate (DAE standard drug) at 3.5mg/kg, and groups 5 and 6 received distilled water. The log of parasitaemia, rectal temperature, packed cell volume, Haemoglobin concentration, body weight and Red blood cell count were determined on days zero, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42. On day 42 post infection, the groups treated with the extract (300mg/kg and diminazene aceturate) cleared the parasite unlike the extracts (100mg/kg and 200mg/kg) which could not clear the parasite from the blood. On days 35 and 42 pi, the mean rectal temperature of diminiazene aceturate treated group and the extract (300mg/kg) was significantly (P<0.05) lower when compared with the negative control group. On days 28, 35 and 42 pi, the PCV, Hb, and Rbc of diminazene aceturate, extract (300mg/kg) and normal control groups were significantly (P<0.05) higher when compared with the negative control group. Gas chromatogram showed 20 peaks indicating 20 compounds in Olax subscorpioidea. The most prominent compounds were Linoleic acid (LEA), 6-octadecanoic acid (ODA) and oleic acid (OCA). The 2D interactions of LEA was -5.8; ODA was -3.9; OCA was -5.1 while the standard drug was -8.3. The additive effect of LEA, ODA and OCA was -14.8. This shows that compounds in Olax subscorpioidea were better than standard drug as antitrypanosomal agent. The findings of this study suggests that methanol extracts of Olax subscorpioidea possess antitrypanosomal activity and justified its folkloric use for control and treatment of tryps infection.

Keywords: Antitrypanosome, Diminazene aceturate, in silico, Olax subscorpioidea, WAD-goat.