Clerodendrum Umbellatum
Poir (Verbenaceae) is traditionally used in Cameroon for the treatment of
many diseases including intestinal helminthiasis. This study was undertaken to assess the
in vivo
antischistosomal activity of its leaves aqueous extract on a
Schistosoma mansoni
mice model and to determine
the most effective dose of this extract. Mice showing a patent infection of
S. mansoni were daily treated with
C.
umbellatum leaves aqueous extract at the doses of 40, 80 or 160 mg/kg body weight for 14 days. Seven days
after administration of the extract, schistosomicidal activity was evaluated on the liver and spleen weights, faecal
eggs releasing, liver egg count and worm burden. Treatment using
C. umbellatum leaves aqueous extract resulted
in an important reduction in faecal egg output by 75.49 % and 85.14 % for 80 mg/kg and 160 mg/kg of the
extract respectively. These reduction rates did not differ significantly from the 100 % obtained in the group of
infected mice treated with 100 mg/kg of praziquantel.
C. umbellatum leaves aqueous extract was lethal to
S. mansoni worm. A 100 % reduction rate was recorded in the group of infected mice treated with 160 mg/kg of the
extract, as well as in praziquantel-treated mice. An amelioration of the hepatosplenomegaly was noticed in both
the extract-treated mice and the praziquantel-treated mice. From these results, we can conclude that
C.
umbellatum leaves aqueous extract demonstrated schistosomicidal properties in
S. mansoni model at doses of at
least 80 mg/kg body weight.
