South Asian Journal of Parasitology

The effect of Cymbopogoncitratus (lemon grass) extract and berenil was investigated on albino rats, infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei in the Laboratory. A total of thirty five (35) rats were used, 8 - 10 weeks old weighing between 120 to 180grams were allowed to acclimatizefor a period of one week. These were divided into seven groups (A and B controls, while C, D, E, F and G groups were infected and treated with 0.5ml and 0.2ml of the aqueous extract of C. citratus and berenil respectively. One milliliter (1ml) of T.b. brucei infected blood was diluted with phosphate buffered saline and was inoculated via the intra-peritoneal route; parasite was detected by wet film method and examined under the light microscopic field using X40 magnification to check thewriggling movement of trypanosomes. Treatment C. had the highest mean PCV (52.93±4.23%) while B. had the least (49.60±4.611%). A. had the highest mean white blood cell value (9.21±1.959x10⁹/L) while D. had the least (8.56±2.915X10⁹/L). Treatment A. also had the highest mean red blood cell value (2.58±1.959X10⁹/L), G. (2.50±3.615X10⁹/L), while C. had the least (2.38±3.869X10⁹/L). Treatment B. had the highest mean weight gain (3.99±0.201g), A. (2.73±0.462g) while E. had the least (0.20±0.346g). Group B. had the highest mean parasitaemia count (77.75±36.130), C. (35.75±40.419) while A. and D. had the least (0.00±0.000). Mortality rate was higher in group B. (3.67±1.506) and F. (2.50±1.049) while A, D, E and G. had the least (0.00±0.000). There was significant difference (P = 0.00) in the mortality rate among the groups. The ability of lemongrass extract to increase the lifespan of the infected rats in this study may be due to phytochemical contents of the extract. It is therefore recommended that lemon grass extract be used as anti-trypanosomal agent.