Evaluation and Phytochemical Analysis of Prosopis africana and Erythrina senegalensis Used against Immature Stages of Schistosoma haematobium

Abstract

Seventeen groups of laboratory mice were infected with 200 cercariae of the helminth parasite, Schistosoma haematobium, per mouse, using the paddling technique. Mice in sixteen groups were subsequently treated with the plant extract of P. africana and E. senegalesis at weekly intervals while the seventeenth group was kept as infected control. A single oral dose of 40 mg/kg body weight was administered. The efficacy of the extracts against different ages of development of the disease was measure by mean percentage worm reduction; mean percentage reduction in tissue egg count and evaluation of hepatosplenic disease. The helminth parasite was highly susceptible to the extracts administered on days 0, 7, 14, 42 and 49 and showed cure with normal livers and spleens; however, mice treated on day 21, 28 and 35 with the extracts gave ineffective results’. Cure rate, given by percentage worm reduction, ranged from 96% - 98% and 94% - 96% for both Prosopis africana and Erythrina senegalensis respectively. The two plants showed anti-helminthic activity against urinary Schistosomiasis and phytochemical screening of the extracts revealed the presence of Tannins, Saponins, Anthraquinones, Cardiac-glycosides, carbohydrates, and steroids, while terpenes were absent.