Epizootiology and Molecular Identification of Trypanosome Species in Livestock Ruminants in the Gambia.

Introduction: African Animal Trypanosomiasis (AAT) or nagana in animals, is caused by the blood-borne parasitic protozoa called trypanosomes, and is potentially fatal. It is estimated that Africa loses $4‒5 billion annually due to the death of livestock to nagana in the tsetse belt.

Purpose: Although The Gambia lies within this belt, there is scanty data regarding the epizootiology of nagana in The Gambia.

Bioassay-guided isolation of active principles from Nigerian medicinal plants identifies new trypanocides with low toxicity and no cross-resistance to diamidines and arsenicals.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Leaves from the plant species studied herein are traditionally used in northern Nigeria against various protozoan infections. However, none of these herbal preparations have been standardized, nor have their toxicity to mammalian cells been investigated. In search of improved and non-toxic active antiprotozoal principles that are not cross-resistant with current anti-parasitics, we here report the results of the in vitro screening of extracts from seven selected medicinal plant species (Centrosema pubescens, Moringa oleifera, Tridax procumbens, Polyalthia longifolia, Newbouldia laevis, Eucalyptus maculate, Jathropha tanjorensis), used traditionally to treat kinetoplastid infections in Nigeria, and the isolation of their bioactive principles.

Antitrypanosomal Activity of a Novel Taccalonolide from the Tubers of Tacca leontopetaloides.

Introduction: Several taccalonolides with various bioactivities have been isolated from Tacca species but no studies to isolate taccalonolides with anti-trypanosomal activity from Tacca leontopetaloides have been reported.

Objectives: To analyse extracts of the roots of Tacca leontopetaloides, purify the extracts by column chromatography and identify isolated compounds by spectroscopic methods. The compounds and fractions will be tested for antitrypanosomal activity in vitro against Trypanosoma brucei brucei.

Chemical and Antimicrobial Profiling of Propolis from Different Regions within Libya.

Extracts from twelve samples of propolis collected from different regions of Libya were tested for their activity against Trypanosoma brucei, Leishmania donovani, Plasmodium falciparum, Crithidia fasciculata and Mycobacterium marinum and the cytotoxicity of the extracts was tested against mammalian cells. All the extracts were active to some degree against all of the protozoa and the mycobacterium, exhibiting a range of EC50 values between 1.65 and 53.

Chemical characterisation of Nigerian red propolis and its biological activity against Trypanosoma Brucei.

Introduction: A previous study showed the unique character of Nigerian red propolis from Rivers State, Nigeria (RSN), with regards to chemical composition and activity against Trypanosoma brucei in comparison with other African propolis.

Objective: To carry out fractionation and biological testing of Nigerian propolis in order to isolate compounds with anti-trypanosomal activity. To compare the composition of the RSN propolis with the composition of Brazilian red propolis.