Acute Toxicity and in Vitro Antitrypanosomal Activity of Tacazzea Apiculata Methanol Root Extraction

Human African trypanosomiasis, which is commonly known as sleeping sickness, is a parasitic vector borne disease. The parasites involved are protozoans belonging to the genus Trypanosoma. To assess the acute toxicity and in vitro antitrypanosomal activity of tacazzea apiculata methanol root extract. Five hundred gram (500g) of the stored sample (roots) of T. apiculata was weigh on a weighing balance and the sample was transferred into a conical flask and macerated in 500ml of 95% methanol. The mixture was then be kept at room temperature for 72hours and filtered. The fraction was then evaporated to dryness at 45℃ using water bath. The first stage of acute toxicity assay of T. apiculata does not show any signs of toxicity at 10, 100, and 1000mg/Kg. the albino rats were properly observed for 3hours, 24hours and the body weight was constantly check every 24hours, there was no significant decreased in the weight of the albino rats which leads to the second phase oral acute toxicity of the T. apiculata in the albino rats. During the second phase of the oral acute toxicity assay, the albino rats shows no remarkable sign of toxicity at 1600mg/kg, 2900mg/kg and 5000mg/kg. The body weight of the albino rats were constanstly checked every 24hours. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of tannins, saponins, flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids and phenols. The presence of all these important phytochemicals in methanol extracts of these plants is an indication that these plants if properly screened could yield drugs of pharmaceutical significance. This study revealed the presence of various important medicinal phytochemicals in methanol extracts of Tacazzea apiculata. The oral acute toxicity of tacazzea apiculata used in this present study indicate no significant toxicity effects on the albino rats used in this study. This shows that tacazzea apiculata methanol root extract has no toxic effects. These results showed that methanol root extracts of Tacazzea apiculata have significant In vitro antitrypanosomal activity