Assessment Phytochemical Screening and in vitro Antitrypanosomal Activity of Methanol Extract of Abrus precatorius Linn against Trypanosome brucei brucei

Abstract

Abrus precatorious (Fabaceae) is an important medicinal plant used to treat tetanus, rabies, fever, and jaundice. The plant was investigated for phytochemical composition and the antitrypanosomal activity against Trypanosomes brucei brucei for the development of alternative treatment of African trypanosomiasis. The plant material was extracted with organic solvent in a polarity gradient of petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, and methanol. The methanol extracts were screened for various secondary metabolites using the standard method revealing the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids, tannins, phenolic content, and reducing sugar. The total phenolic contents determination using Folin-Ciocateau techniques showed the phenol concentration in the order of petroleum ether extract (138 mg GAE/g), ethyl acetate extract (247 mg GAE/g), and the methanol extracts (307mg GAE/g). An appreciable in vitro antitrypanosomal activity was attained by the methanol extract at 50 mg/ml^-1 concentration within 110 minutes as it drastically reduced the motility of the parasite, however, the parasite lost its infectivity after 21 days. The results obtained suggest that the plant contains potent antitrypanosomal activity agents that could be developed as drugs for African animal trypanosomiasis