The anti-trypanosomal effects of aqueous extract of the leaf of
Ocimum gratissimum
were evaluated in
both
in-vitro and
in-vivo studies. The anti-trypanosomal activity of the extract against
Trypanosoma Brucei
was
investigated
in-vitro. The survival and motility of the trypanosomes were completely inhibited within two hours
of incubation in various concentrations of the extract. Parasite survival time was concentration dependent being
longer in lower (25 and 12.5 mg/ml) than higher (100, 75 and 50 mg/ml) concentrations of the extract. The invivo
anti-trypanosomal effect of the leaf extract of the leaf extract was investigated in rats infected with
Trypanosoma brucei and treated with the extract. The infected rats treated with the extract had less dramatic
clinical manifestations and mortality, survived longer and higher PCV values than their untreated counterparts,
however, parasitaemia was not significantly reduced. The results suggest that the folkloric medicinal application
of the aqueous extract of
Ocimum gratissimum has no possible pharmacological basis.
