Drug Development and Conservation of Biodiversity in West and Central Africa
Abstract
This project concerns the detection of growth inhibition of African trypanosomes and of pathogenic trichomonads by phyto-extracts from West Africa. During the period 05/01/00-04/30/01, 39 extracts received from the Walter Reed Army Institute for Research (WRAIR) and six received from the University of Dschang, Cameroon were screened against one Trypanosoma brucei strain and two Trypanosoma rhodesiense strains. Eighteen of the WRAIR and three of the Cameroon samples had IC50 values of < 0.1 to < 20 micrograms/ml, and were of interest for further purification and or in vivo studies. All 18 of the WRAIR extracts were tested in the T. brucei mouse laboratory model infection in standard dose response regimens of 1 to 25 mg/kg/day i.p. for 3 days. None of the extracts prolonged the lifespan of the mice as compared to infected, untreated controls. Eight extracts were tested vs. metronidazole-sensitive and -resistant isolates of Trichomonas vaginalis and 18 were tested against the veterinary parasite Tritrichomonas foetus. Of those tested vs. T. vaginalis, three had MIC values of 0.3-0.6 mg/ml and two extracts tested vs. T. foetus had MIC values of 0.3-0.6 mg/ml. These studies are continuing, with increased emphasis on in vivo testing of more highly purified plant extracts in an effort to determine the active agent(s) in these extracts.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA396498
Entities
People
- Cyrus J. Bacchi
Organizations
- Pace University