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Effects of Nigerian red propolis in rats infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei

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Abstract

Propolis has a long history of use in folk medicine and possesses various biological activities. Effects of the methanol extract of Nigerian red propolis (NRP) in trypanosome-infected rats were studied. Mature albino Wistar rats (30) were randomly grouped into six (A–F). Groups A–E were infected with 1.0 × 106 Trypanosoma brucei brucei organisms intraperitoneally. Group F was uninfected. On establishment of infection, groups A–C were treated orally with NRP at 600, 400 and 200 mg/kg body weight for five consecutive days while group D received diminazene aceturate at 7 mg/kg body weight intraperitoneally. Group E received equal volumes of DMSO solution for five consecutive days. Parameters monitored were mean group parasitaemia, packed cell volumes (PCV), haemoglobin concentrations (Hbc) and bodyweight changes. By day 16 post-infection (PI) parasitaemia was significantly higher in the DMSO control group E than in the NRP-treated groups. Mean group PCV, Hbc and weight loss were significantly (p < 0.05) lower in DMSO control group when compared with all the other experimental groups. Rats treated with NRP (600 and 400 mg/kg) had significant (p < 0.05) reduction in parasitaemia (day 16 PI), higher PCV, Hbc and weight gain than the DMSO control.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Nsukka, Nigeria

    Nwakaego E. Nweze

  2. Phytochemistry Research Group, Department of Chemistry, University of Agriculture PMB 2373, Makurdi, Nigeria

    Henry O. Okoro, Terrumun A. Tor-Anyiin & John O. Igoli

  3. College of Pharmacy Taif University, P.O. Box 888, Taif, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

    Majed Al Robaian

  4. Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, 161 Cathedral Street, Glasgow, G4 0RE, UK

    Ruwida M. K. Omar & David G. Watson

Authors
  1. Nwakaego E. Nweze
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  2. Henry O. Okoro
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  3. Majed Al Robaian
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  4. Ruwida M. K. Omar
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  5. Terrumun A. Tor-Anyiin
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  6. David G. Watson
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  7. John O. Igoli
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Correspondence to Nwakaego E. Nweze.

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No funds were received from any external bodies for the conduct of this research.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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All procedures carried out were in accordance with institutional and national/international guidelines for animal experiments.

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Nweze, N.E., Okoro, H.O., Al Robaian, M. et al. Effects of Nigerian red propolis in rats infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei . Comp Clin Pathol 26, 1129–1133 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-017-2497-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-017-2497-0

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