Science Journal of Microbiology
March 2013, Volume 2013, ISSN: 2276-626X
© Author(s) 2013. This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Research Article
Effects of crude extracts of Solanum nigrum on the Liver pathology and Survival time in Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense infected mice
Serem Erick. Kibichiy1, Mburu Jane2, Mdachi Raymond3, Korir Scolastica11, Kibugu James3, Kagira John4 and Ngure Raphael5
1Department of Biological Sciences, Egerton University, P. O Box 536-20115 Egerton.
2Animal Sciences Department, Egerton University, P. O Box 536-20115 Egerton.
3Kenya Agricultural Research Institute- Trypanosomosis Research Centre, Pharmacology and Chemotherapy Division. P.O Box 362-
00902, Kikuyu.
4Institute of Primate Research. P.O. Box 24481, Karen, Nairobi, Kenya; Department of Land Resources and Planning Management, Jomo
Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), P.O Box 62000-00200.
5Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Egerton University. P. O Box 536-20115 Egerton.
Accepted 19 February 2013; Available Online 11 March, 2013
doi: 10.7237/sjmb/242
Abstract:
Tissue inflammatory damage during trypanosomosis significantly affects the treatment and prognosis. The current study investigated the effects of water extracts of Solanum nigrum (SNE) on the liver pathology and survival of Swiss white mice infected with Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense. Trypanosome infected mice treated with SNE had significantly (P<0.05) increased and dose dependent survival time and liver pathology. Mice treated with higher concentrations of SNE had minimal liver pathology with minimal infiltration by inflammatory cells compared with the dexamethasone treated and untreated mice which had massive infiltration suggesting that SNE could be superior to dexamethasone in reducing trypanosome mediated liver pathology. Therefore, SNE could be a better anti-inflammatory adjunct in the treatment of Human African trypanosomosis (HAT) and other inflammatory conditions such as hepatitis.
Keyword:Liver pathology; Inflammation; Survival time; Solanum nigrum; Human African Trypanosomosis