In vitro Cercaricidal Activity of Fractions and Isolated Compounds of Erythrophleum ivorense (Fabaceae) Root Bark against Schistosoma haematobium
Francis A. Armah *
Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
Benjamin Amoani
Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
Isaac T. Henneh
Department of Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
Rita A. Dickson
Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana.
Christian K. Adokoh
Department of Forensic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
Isaac K. Amponsah
Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana.
Cecilia Adu-Gyamfi
Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
Desmond O. Acheampong
Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Introduction: Schistosoma haematobium is one of the species of Schistosoma responsible for schistosomiasis in humans, a major public health problem worldwide. Praziquantel, the most effective drug against all adult stages of human schistosomiasis, faces the threat of resistance and also has sub-optimal efficacy against cercaria, an immature form of schistosomiasis. This underscores the need to search for an alternative anti-schistosomal drug with pronounced activity particularly against cercaria.
Aim: This study investigated anti-cercarial activity of total crude (70% ethanolic extract), fractions (methanolic, ethyl acetate and petroleum ether) and isolated bioactive compounds from the root bark of Erythrophleum ivorense.
Study Design: In vitro anti-cercarial activity was evaluated using 20 freshly shed cercariae from Schistosoma haematobium species transferred into 20 well plates. Cercaricidal effect of the various concentrations (15.6, 31.3, 62.5, 125.0, 250.0 and 500.0 µg/mL) of test extracts and compounds were observed for 3 hours using an inverted microscopy. The results showed that extracts and compounds of the plant decreased percentage viability of cercariae in a dose-dependent manner.
Results: Within two hours of incubation, all cercariae died at the various concentrations of test compounds and extracts with the exception of methanol extract and the bioactive compound erythroivorensin at 15.6
Keywords: Cercariae, schistosomiasis, erythroivorensin, eriodictyol, betulinic acid, Erythrophleum ivorense.