Trypanocidal Effects Of Extracts Of Phyllanthus Amarus In Trypanosoma Brucei Brucei Infected Albino Rats

ABSTRACT

A study on the trypanocidal effect of Phyl/anthus amarus collected from within Michael Okpara University of agriculture was conducted in Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike using eighteen laboratory bred albino rats divided into six groups. Nine of the rats were infected with Trypanosoma brucei while nine were uninfected. The Trypanosoma brucei was obtained from Veterinary pathology department of University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The different groups were treated with Phyllanthus amarus extracts except the control group. Routine parasitaemia in the infected groups and PCV of all the rats in the different groups were determined. The PCV of the infected groups decreased while the level of parasitaemia in each infected group increased progressively. There was no significant difference between the mean distribution of the packed cell volume (PCV) in the infected and uninfected groups treated with the extracts (aqueous and ethanol). Phyllanthus amarus did not show any positive trypanocidal effects on the infected the albino rats.