Abstract:
The proximate analysis of the Bucholzia coriacea seeds according to AOAC (1990) shows
appreciable amount of nutrients with highest carbohydrate content (77.20%) and moisture content having the lowest value (1.34%). There was presence of phytochemical compounds in the seeds as well. The trypanocidal potentials of aqueous and methanolic extracts of Buchholzia coriacea investigated intraperitoneally in trypanosome induced mice using parasitized blood of mice infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei strains
(0.1ml of diluted blood from infected mice having an average of 100 parasites per microscopic field) confirmed infection by microscopic examination of blood samples obtained from the tail of the mice after 96hours of inoculation. The number of parasites per field was noted and the general clinical conditions of the mice were monitored. The packed cell volume was determined using a haematocrit centrifuge. The extract cleared the trypanosomes in the blood between the 11th and 13th day post infection, after 5 consecutive days treatment with 1000mg/kg, the level of parasitaemia was significantly lower than those of the 250mg/kg and 500mg/kg and the infected untreated groups in the aqueous extract than those treated with methanolic extract. There was no difference between the level of parasitaemia of the Berenil treated group and the 1000mg/kg of the extract treated group from the 7th – 13th day Post infection. The Berenil treated group and 1000mg/kg had a significant increase in the level of packed cell volume than the 250mg/kg and 500mg/kg treated groups with aqueous extract. In conclusion, the group treated with aqueous extract exhibited trypanocidal activity than the group treated with methanolic extract of Buchholzia coriacea especially at 1000mg/kg.
