In Vitro Anti-leishmanial Activities of 80% Methanol Extract of Brucea Antidysenterica J.F. Mill Seeds and its Solvent Fractions
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Date
2022-04
Authors
Ketema, Tasisa
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease threatening lives of about 350 million people ,
globally. However, the currently available treatment options are limited and have drawbacks
including variable efficacy, toxicity and unaffordability. Seeds of Brucea antidysenterica is used
for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis in traditional medicine. This study was aimed to
evaluate its anti-leishmanial activity in vitro. Following preliminary anti-leishmanial activity
studies, crude (80% methanol) extract of Brucea antidysenterica and its fractions were evaluated
for their anti-leishmanial activities against promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes of
Leishmania donovani and Leishmania aethiopica, and for their cytotoxic effects against
mammalian cells. The quantitative estimations of total phenolic compounds (TPC), flavonoids
(TFC) and alkaloids (TAC) were determined, spectrophotometrically. The crude extract and its
hexane, ethyl acetate and butanol fractions showed anti-leishmanial activities with IC50
values of
(4.14 ± 0.62 ≤ IC50
≤ 60.12 ± 6.95 µg/ml) against promastigotes, and (6.16 ± 1.12 ≤ IC50
≤ 40.12
± 5.30 µg/ml) against amastigotes of both Leishmania species. They showed moderate
cytotoxicity against Vero cell lines and peritoneal mice macrophages with CC50
values of 100 ≤
CC50
≤ 500 µg/ml but > 1600 µg/ml against red blood cells. Having the selectivity index of (7.97
≤ SI ≤ 30.97), the crude extract and its fractions showed selectivity toward Leishmania parasites.
The crude extract, and its ethyl acetate and hexane fractions possessed (54.78 ± 1.39 ≤ TPC
≤
127.72 ± 1.82 mg of gallic acid equivalent), (18.30 ± 0.07 ≤ TFC
≤ 79.21 ± 0.19 mg of quercetin
equivalent) and (27.62 ± 0.27 ≤ TAC
≤ 97.22 ± 0.25 mg of atropine equivalent) per gram of
extracts. The seeds of the plant possessed anti-leishmanial activities against L. aethiopica and L.
donovani that might provide a scientific justification for its use in the treatment of leishmaniasis
by traditional healers. Future works are recommended to isolate, purify and identify the possible
secondary metabolites attributed to the anti-leishmanial activity of seeds of B. antidysenterica.
Description
Keywords
Anti-amastigotes, anti-leishmanial, anti-promastigotes, Brucea antidysenterica, Leishmania aethiopica, Leishmania donovani