Anti-Trypanosomal Effect of Neem Kernel Oil in Mice Infected with Trypanosoma brucei

Abstract

Aim: There is a huge economic cost of T. brucei parasites in both man and animals with limited drugs available for complete treatment of the disease. The purpose of this study was to investigate the toxicity of neem kernel oil on T. brucei using haematological parameters of PCV, Hb and RBC as indices of evaluation in mice as the animal model. Methodology: The mice were randomly divided into five groups containing 5 mice each (A, B, C and D). Group A was neither infected nor treated and served as control while groups B-D were intra-peritoneally infected with 1x 105 Trypanosoma brucei organisms. Results: The infected groups developed parasitaemia 3 to 4 days post infection (pi). The group that was untreated became ill and died 10 days pi. The treatment with neem kernel oil at the onset of infection (day 0) or onset of parasitaemia (day 4 pi) resulted in less severe clinical symptoms and reduced levels of parasitaemia. All the mice that were infected with the kernel oil (groups B,C) and those infected but untreated (group E) died within 10 days of the study. The mice in group D treated with diminazene aceturate survived the parasitaemia. The haematological indices of the diminazene aceturate treated group showed significant (P<0.05) recovery to almost their pre-infection levels. Conclusion: The results suggest that although the neem oil did not have any significant effect on Trypanosoma brucei parasitaemia, it reduced the adverse haematological changes caused by the parasites. The results also suggest that the neem kernel oil alone may not be useful in the control of Trypanosoma brucei infection.