Antigiardial, antiamoebic and cytotoxic activity of the leaves extracts of Vitex trifolia

Abstract

The World Health Organization ranks diarrheal disease as the second (after acute respiratory infections) most common cause of morbidity and mortality in children in the developing world. Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia are two of the most important and most widespread diarrhea-related parasitic protozoa in the world. Metronidazole is used as a drug of choice against amoebiasis and giardiasis. However, like a lot of other chemical agents, this drug has its own side effects. The present study was carried out to evaluate antigiardial, antiamoebic activity and explore the cytotoxicity of Vitex trifolia (leaves) variety supreme court leaves petroleum ether and methanolic extracts in vitro. The highest activity against Giardia lamblia, with respect to time, was obtained from petroleum ether extract which exhibited 75.25% mortality within 72 h with a concentration of 1000 ppm followed by the same extract which exhibited 72.07% mortality within 72 h with a concentration of 500 ppm. On the other hand, the lowest antigiardial activity was recorded by petroleum ether extract 58.92% mortality with 125 ppm concentration in 72 h. The highest activity against Entamoba histolytica, with respect to time, was obtained from methanolic extract which exhibited 61.64% mortality within 72 h with a concentration of 1000 ppm. On the other hand, the lowest antiamobic activity was recorded by petroleum ether extract 53.62% mortality with 125 ppm concentration within 72 h. The cytotoxicity of methanol and petroleum ether extract had varying degrees of toxicity to Vero cell lines with IC₅₀ 349.07 μg/ml for the methanol extract and 369.77 μg/ml for the petroleum ether extract.

Keywords: Vitex doniana (Leaves), antigiardial, antiamoebic, cytotoxicity, Sudan.