Phytochemical Constituents and In Vitro Antitrypanosomal Activity of Ethanol Seed Extract of Buchholzia Coriacea

Abstract

The medicinal efficacy of Buchholzia coriacea seed extract was screened for possible anti-trypanosomal activity in vitro. Whole Buchholzia coriacea seeds were extracted with 80% ethanol (EtOH) to obtained crude extract. The flavonoid fraction was extracted from crude ethanol extract using n-butanol and purified in column chromatography eluted with methanol. The crude extract and flavonoid fraction obtained were screened for in vitro antitrypanosomal activity by mixing 20 μl of blood sample containing about 20-25 parasites per field with 5 μl of crude ethanol extract and flavonoid fraction separately at 20.0, 2.0 and 0.2 mg/ml producing effective concentrations of 4, 0.4 and 0.04 mg/ml, respectively. Result indicated that flavonoid fraction of B. coriacea exhibited complete caesation of motility of T. b. brucei within 60 minutes at concentrations of 4 and 0.4 mg/ml while the crude ethanol extract recorded only reduction on parasite count and sluggishness in motility as compared to untreated control. Differences in the amount of phytochemical present could probably be responsible for the observed antitrypanosomal activity. This study therefore provides scientific evidence for the traditional use of ethanol crude extract and flavonoid fraction of Bucholzia coriacea seed for the management of trypanosomosis.