Anti-trypanosomal activity of essential oil from Carica papaya seed extract against Trypanosoma brucei brucei

Abstract

Trypanosomabruceibrucei is one of the main causative agent of African animal trypanosomosis in sub-saharan Africa. Its infection causes death in cattle while the current treatment poses serious toxicity problem. But natural products can be used to overcome this problem associated with parasitic diseases including trypanosoma brucei brucei. Carica papaya seed extracts were evaluated phytochemically for its constituents and anty-trypanosomal potential against trypanosoma brucei brucei. The composition and the functional groups of the essential oils of the carica papaya seed were analyzed by GCMS and FTIR respectively. The in vivoanty-trypanosomal efficacy of the extracts were evaluated in Wister albino rats infected with trypanosoma brucei brucei. The rats were divided into 3 groups (A - C) of 3 rats each. They were dosed intraperitoneally (IP) once with 500, 2000 and 5000 mg/kg body weight of the extract, respectively. The rats were observed for 24 hours for signs of toxicity like changes in behaviour or death.The extracts had a lethal dose greater than 2000 mg/kg. The essential oils were active on the parasite motility. Significant reduction in motility of parasites were observed at 0.5 mg/ml (30 minutes), 0.05mg/ml (30 minutes) and at 0.005mg/ml (90 minutes) of both crude methanol extract, fractions of n-hexane, ethyl acetate and n-butanol of Carica papaya seed which was taken as a measure of the anti-trypanosomal effect of the crude methanol extract of carica papaya seed and fractions of n-hexane, ethyl acetate and n-butanol. And they were compared with the control which shows active motility even at 105minutes intervals. Results of this study indicated that the aqueous/methanolic and different fractions of Carica papaya seed have anti-parasitic activity against trypanosoma brucei brucei. In general, the results obtained revealed ethno-pharmacological application of the extracts and necessitate further studies to be carried on isolated active substances of the plant.