Abstract

The antitrypanosomal efficacy of different doses of Cucumis metuliferus pulp extract was investigated in rabbits. Parasitaemia, Packed Cell Volume (PCV), percentage organ/body weight ratio and survival period were monitored. Treatment was by oral administration and it commenced at the establishment of infection that lasted between 1 to 3 weeks. Parasitaemia fluctuated and was kept low in all the treated groups. However, the results showed significant increase in both PCV and body weight (P<0.05) in rabbits treated at 500 and 1000 mg/kg body weight. Treatment with 500 mg/kg body weight for 7 consecutive days gave the highest survival period of 47 days beyond 28 days for the untreated control group. Post mortem examination (following the termination of the study) generally revealed pale carcasses, hepatomegaly and splenomegaly. However, treatment for three weeks with 500 and 1000 mg/ kg body weight alleviated hepatomegaly and splenomegaly significantly (P<0.05). Consequently, a more detailed investigation of the potentials of C. metuliferus for antitrypanosomiasis drug discovery is recommended to pave way for the development of drugs for the effective treatment of African trypanosomiasis.

Key words: Cucumis metuliferus, Trypanosoma brucei, chemotherapy, trypanosomiasis.