Antigiardial Activity and Cytotoxicity of Adansonia digitata

Background: Adansonia digitata L. (Family: Malvaceae) is a majestic tree revered in Africa for its medicinal and nutritional value. The plant parts are used to treat various ailments such as diarrhoea, malaria and microbial infections. It is reported that it is an excellent anti-oxidant due to the vitamin C content which is seven to ten times higher than the vitamin C content of oranges. A. digitata has numerous biological properties including antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities amongst others. Giardiasis is the most common cause of parasitic gastro-intestinal disease and it is estimated that up to two hundred million people are chronically infected with giardia lamblia globally, and 500,000 new cases reported annually. Objectives: The purpose of the paper was to investigate the in-vitro antigiardial activity and cytotoxicity (MTT assay) of ethanol extract of A. digitata L. (leaves). Method: The ethanol extract of A. digitata (leaves), with different concentration (500 ppm, 250 ppm and 125 ppm) and metronidazole concentration (312.5 μg/ml) to be investigated in vitro against giardia lamblia trophozoites. And cytotoxicity (MTT assay) with different concentration (500 ppm, 250 ppm and 125 ppm) and compare triton-100 (the reference control). Result: The result was obtained from A. digitata leaves ethanol extract which exhibited 100% mortality within 96 h, at a concentration 500 ppm; this was compared with Metronidazole which gave 96% inhibition at concentration 312.5 µg/ml at the same time. And MTT assay verified the safety of the examined extract. conclusion: These studies conducted for both A. digitata leaves was proved to have potent activities against giardia lamblia trophozoites in vitro. MTT assay verified the safety of the examined extract.

Author(s): Ahmed Saeed Kabbashi*and Amel Mahmoud Abdrabo

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