Phytochemical and Antitrypanosomal Studies of Different Solvents Extracts of Boswellia dalzielii

Solvent extracts of the various parts of Boswellia dalzielii (leaves, stem bark and root bark) were screened invitro and in vivo for antitrypanosomal activity against Trypanosoma brucei brucei. Methanolic extract of theleaves, stem bark and root bark of Boswellia dalzielii at 20 mg/ml caused motility to cease after 35, 20 and 20minutes, respectively while at 10 mg/ml, motility ceased at 50, 30 and 20 minutes respectively. Chloroformextract of root bark of the plant caused motility to cease after 40 minutes at concentration of 20 mg/ml. In vivoactivity of methanol extract of the plant on T. brucei brucei infected mice showed consistent parasitemicsuppressions at 300 mg/kg with methanolic extract of the leaves displaying highest activity. Reagent-basedchemical analysis conducted on the extract revealed the presence of saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins,resins, steroids and triterpenes. These findings suggest that methanolic extract of Boswellia dalzielii leaves ismore effective than other parts of the plant, and hence deserve further evaluation in the therapy oftrypanosomiasis.