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              Research
                            
              
                            
                            4.  
                            In vivo trypanocidal 
                            activity of Hydroethanolic extract of Hymenocardia 
                            acida stem bark in rats - 
                            Hyacinth Abu Adakole, Chukwuka N. Uchendu
                            Vet World. 2011; 4(3): 113-116
              
              
               
              
              
              doi: 
              10.5455/vetworld.2011.113-116
              
              
               
              
              
              
   
 
              
               
               
               
              
              
              Abstract
              
                            
                            
                            The in vivo trypanocidal efficacy of Hydroethanolic 
                            extract of Hymenocardia acida stem bark was 
                            evaluated in Wistar rats. Three groups of rats were 
                            treated orally with the extract at doses of 100, 200 
                            and 400 mg/kg body weight for 6 days. Two other 
                            groups received the vehicle and Diminazene accurate 
                            at 3.5 mg/kg to serve as negative and positive 
                            control respectively. The mean survival period of 
                            infected animals, daily level of parasitaemia, 
                            packed cell volume, total and differential leukocyte 
                            counts were evaluated. Oral administration of the 
                            extract did not significantly (P > 0.05) affect the 
                            packed cell volume. However, the extract reduced the 
                            level of parasitaemia and prolonged the life span of 
                            infected rats. This study shows in vivo potential of 
                            hydroethanolic extract of H. acida in the treatment 
                            of African trypanosomosis. 
              
                            
              Key words: Albino 
                            rats, Trypanocidal, Hymenocardia acida, Herbal drug, 
                            Parasitemia, African Trypanosomiasis.