Antitheilerial Activity of Some Medicinal Plants in Sudan

Abstract

This study investigates the antitheilerial activity (in vitro) of the aqueous extract of four local medicinal plants, Gardenia ternifolia(Abu Gawie), Kigelia africana(Abu shutour), Sonchus cornutus(Moleita) and Tinospora bakis(Irg al-Hagar). Preliminary screening of the aqueousextracts of the four plants for activity against Theileria lestoquardi(ovine theileriosis) was done at concentrations of 250, 500, 5000 and 10000 ppm. The antimalarial drug, Paluther (Artemether 80), was tested for antitheilerial effect. On the other hand, Butalex (buparvaquone) was used as a standard drug. Screening for antitheilerial activity revealed K. africanato be the most potent candidate among the studied plants, followed by Gardenia ternifolia, and Tinospora bakis. However, Sonchus cornutuslacks activity. The highest activity of K. africana, Gardenia ternifolia andT. bakisat 10000 ppm was 80%, 60% and 30%, respectively; Artemether 80 producing 45% activity at 10mg/L. But buparvaquone at 10mg/L produced 100% activity. LC50of K. africana, G. ternifolia andT. bakiswas 2660.28 ppm, 6745.28ppm and 184268.54 ppm, respectively. However, Artemether 80 and buparvaquone having LC50of 21.29 mg/L and 0.000015 mg/L, respectively. Plant extracts plus Artemether80 and buparvaquonecaused changes in the morphology, colour and mean number of macroschizonts. The number of cells with extra cellular macroschizonts increased, but the mean XIV number of divided cells (binucleated and multinucleated) and viable cells decreased. The four plants, Artemether 80 and buparvaquone caused partial cytotoxicity at the highest concentration resulting in changes of the morphology of lymphoblast cells and decreasing the number of viable cells.