Allium sativum-induced death of African trypanosomes

Parasitol Res. 1996;82(7):634-7. doi: 10.1007/s004360050177.

Abstract

The effect of Allium sativum (Liliacea) on trypanosome-infected mice was examined. At a dose of 5.0 mg/ml, the oily extract from the pulp completely suppressed the ability of the parasites to be infective in the host. Column chromatography of the extract gave four fractions: ethylacetate/methanol, ethylacetate/ethanol, benzene/methanol, and acetic acid/methanol. Among these fractions, the acetic acid/methanol fraction retained the trypanocidal features of the crude extract. It cured experimentally infected mice of trypanosomiasis in 4 days when given at a dose of 120 mg/kg per day. The extract also manifested inhibition of procyclic forms of Trypanosoma brucei brucei and phospholipases from T. congolense, T. b. brucei, T. vivax. The extract appears to be diallyl-disulfide (DAD) and may interfere with the parasites' synthesis of membrane lipids.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Garlic / chemistry*
  • Mice
  • Phospholipases A / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Plants, Medicinal*
  • Sterols / analysis
  • Trypanocidal Agents / pharmacology*
  • Trypanosoma brucei brucei / chemistry
  • Trypanosoma brucei brucei / drug effects*

Substances

  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Plant Extracts
  • Sterols
  • Trypanocidal Agents
  • Phospholipases A