Alchornea laxiflora as therapeutic agent in the treatment of Trypanosoma brucei brucei infection using experimental wistar rats; invivo and gene expression studies

Catherine Olusunmibola Durojaye; Olusola Olalekan Elekofehinti; Innocent Bamidele Osho; Stephen Olusola Abodunrin

doi:10.5455/JRVS.20230812093455

Abstract
Aims: African trypanosomosis is a zoonotic tropical disease of Sub-Saharan Africa. Its etiology is a group of extracellular protozoans of the genera Trypanosoma which has numerous species including Trypanosoma brucei brucei. Inavailability of vaccines and numerous side effects arising from few available antitrypanosomal drugs gives the indication for search for local alternatives. This experimental study investigates the antitrypanosomal efficacy of chloroform extract of A. laxiflora leaves in wistar albino rats infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei.

Place and Duration of Study: Animal Parasitology and Microbiology Research Unit, Department of Animal Production and Health, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria, between July and November, 2022.

Methodology: Thirty-six rats of both sexes were infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei and treated with Alchornea laxiflora extracts intraperitoneally at dosages of 100, 200 and 400mg/kg for three consecutive days. Diminacene aceturate at 3.5mg/kg as single dose was used as positive control. Daily parasiteamia, rectal temperature and body weight were monitored for 26 days. Antioxidant (SOD, CAT, Nrf2) and pro-inflammatory (TNF-α, IL-6) gene expressions were determined.

Results: Treatment with Alchornea laxiflora caused significant (p < 0.05) decrease in parasitemia of infected rats compared to negative control. Increase in weight gain was recorded after the initial weight loss post infection. There was prolongation of survival days to 22days at 400mg/kg treatment dose compared to 7days in the untreated control. Significant (p < 0.05) dose dependent upward regulation of SOD, CAT and Nrf2 antioxidant genes and down-regulation of TNF-α and IL-6 inflammatory genes were observed in all treatment groups compared to the untreated control in the spleen and liver.

Conclusion: These observations suggest that A. laxiflora extract possess excellent anti-trypanosomal properties with the downregulation of pro inflammatory genes and up-regulation of antioxidant genes

Key words: Alchornea laxiflora. Antioxidant genes, invivo antitrypanosomal, proinfammatory genes, Trypanosomoma brucei brucei