TRYPANOCIDAL POTENTIALS OF AZADIRACHTA-INDICA - IN-VIVO ACTIVITY OF LEAF EXTRACT AGAINST TRYPANOSOMA-BRUCEI-BRUCEI

An aqueous extract of defatted leaves of Azadirachta indica was found to possess trypanocidal activity against Trypanosoma brucei brucei. Co lumn chromatography of the crude extract gave three fractions, I, II, and III, that eluted with ethylacetate/methanol, benzene/methanol, and acetic acid/methanol, respectively. Of these extracts, only fraction III retained trypanocidal properties and cured mice chronically infect ed with Trypanosoma brucei brucei. Histopathological studies of the br ains, livers, hearts, and spleens of the treated mice showed no cellul ar infiltrations. These findings are discussed in relation to trypanos ome chemotherapy.