Anti-Trypanosomal Activities of in Goats with Experimental Trypanosoma brucei brucei Infection

Abstract

The effect of kaempferol on level of parasitaemia in goats with experimental Trypanosoma brucei brucei infection was investigated. Thirty-six one year old goats both sexes weighing between 18 and 22 kilograms (kg) were randomly divided into six groups (I, II, III, IV, V and VI) of six goats each. Goats in group I were neither treated nor infected (un-infected, normal control). Goats in group II were pre-treated prophylactically with kaempferol (1 mg/kg per os) for 14 days prior to infection. Goats in groups II to VI each were inoculated with blood containing Trypanosoma brucei brucei (106 trypanosomes/ml of blood/animal) intravenous (I.V). Following detection of parasitaemia the infected goats (groups II to VI), goats in group III were treated once with diminazene aceturate (3.5 mg/kg) I.P only. Goats in group IV were treated with diminazene aceturate (3.5 mg/kg) once I.V, and then continued with kaempferol (1 mg/kg per os) for nine days. Goats in group V were treated with kaempferol (1 mg/kg per os) only for nine days. Goats in group VI were given normal saline (5 ml/kg per os) only for nine days. The level of parasitaemia increased progressively in mice pre-treated with kaempferol (group II) and those that were treated with kaempferol only (group V) and normal saline (group VI) up to day nine post-infection. The parasites were cleared completely from the blood stream of goats in group III group IV on day six postinfection. Although the onset of parasitaemia was not different from that in other groups, there was a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in the level of parasitaemia in goats treated with kaempferol only (group IV) when compared to goats pre-treated with kaempferol (group II) and those that were administered normal saline (group VI). In conclusion, kaempferol possesses antitrypanosomal activity and probably due to its ability to scavenge free radicals generated during the course of infection.