Anti-trypanosomal activity of nigerian plants and their constituents

Molecules. 2015 Apr 28;20(5):7750-71. doi: 10.3390/molecules20057750.

Abstract

African trypanosomiasis is a vector-borne parasitic disease causing serious risks to the lives of about 60 million people and 48 million cattle globally. Nigerian medicinal plants are known to contain a large variety of chemical structures and some of the plant extracts have been screened for antitrypanosomal activity, in the search for potential new drugs against the illness. We surveyed the literatures on plants and plant-derived products with antitrypanosomal activity from Nigerian flora published from 1990 to 2014. About 90 plants were identified, with 54 compounds as potential active agents and presented by plant families in alphabetical order. This review indicates that the Nigerian flora may be suitable as a starting point in searching for new and more efficient trypanocidal molecules.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Drug Discovery / methods*
  • Humans
  • Nigeria
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Plants / metabolism
  • Plants, Medicinal / metabolism
  • Trypanocidal Agents / pharmacology*
  • Trypanosoma / drug effects
  • Trypanosomiasis, African / drug therapy*
  • Tsetse Flies / parasitology

Substances

  • Plant Extracts
  • Trypanocidal Agents