PHYTOCHEMISTRY, ACUTE TOXICITY AND INVITRO ANTITRYPANOSOMAL STUDIES ON AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF GOSSYPIUM HERBACEUM (LINN) LEAF

¹Biu, A.A., ²Buratai, L. B., ³Lawal, J.R., ³Yakaka, W. ¹Zango, M.K., ⁴Mustapha, F.B. and ²Ali, B.J.

¹Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria

² Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria.

³Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria

⁴Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maiduguri

E-mail:  biuvet@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

The phytochemical components, median lethal dose (LD₅₀) in albino rats and In vitro efficacy of aqueous extract of Gossypium herbaceum leaf onTrypanosoma brucei was investigated in this study. Tannins had a high score in the extract, alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids and reducing sugars indicated moderate scores, while glycosides and phlabotannins showed low scores. The calculated medium lethal dose (LD₅₀) in albino rats was 500mg/kg body weight, with early clinical signs of sluggishness, awkward posture, loss of appetite, starry hair coat and terminal death within 24 hours. All clinical signs were dose dependent. In vitro efficacy of Gossypium herbaceum leaf aqueous extract had a positive correlation with the extract dose, but negatively correlated with the time of exposure, showing a 100% inhibition of trypanosomes at the concentration of 5.0mg/kg. In conclusion Gossypium herbaceum leaf aqueous extract could be described to have bioactive components, moderately toxic and could inhibit trypanosomes In vitro.