Efficacy of Viscum album Leaf and Stem-bark from Host Plants Azadirachta indica (neem), Psidium guajava (guava) and Acacia albida as Anti-Trypanosomal Trado-Complementary Drug

• Published in: Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management Vol. 29; no. 6; pp. 1801 - 1807
• Main Authors: Wasagwa, J., Buratai, L. B., Biu, A. A., Onyiche, T. E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 29.06.2025
• ISSN: 2659-1502; 2659-1499
• DOI: 10.4314/jasem.v29i6.10

The use of synthetic drugs for livestock productivity and health is an expensive venture; hence, plant-based low-cost alternative is sort-out for. Hence, the objective of this paper was to evaluate the efficacy of aqueous extracts of Viscum album leaf and stem-bark from host plants Azadirachta indica (neem), Psidium guajava (guava) and Acacia albida as an anti-trypanosomal trado-complementary drug in albino rats. Appropriate standard methods were employed to consider the parasitaemia counts, haematological, and biochemical parameters in test and control groups of the albino rats. Positive control group had the lowest mean parasitaemia, while the negative control had the highest mean parastaemia. However, the test controls showed a decline in parasitaemia which was dose dependent compared to the negative control (D). The mean values of PCV (33.75 ± 4.59b %), RBC(3.48 ± 0.25mm3), Hb(7.04 ± 0.55 g/dL) and WBC(3.33 ± 0.60mm3) declined significantly in the test controls compared to the normal control for A. indica leaf, however the values for PCV, RBC and Hb increased significantly and WBC decreased significantly in the test controls for A. indica stem bark, A. albida leaf and stem bark and P. guajava leaf and stem bark. There was a significant increase in the mean values of AST (34.00 ± 9.64µmol), ALP (67.43 ± 3.61µmol) and ALT (20.66 ± 3.21 µmol) in the negative control compared to the normal, positive and test controls. In conclusion, Viscum album Aqueous Extract of Leaf and Stem from three different plants ameliorates parasitaemia and improves haematological and biochemical markers in T. brucei brucei infected albino rats. The Findings obtained from this study supports the folkloric applications by locals in the control of animal trypanosomiasis in livestock.