This study was aimed at investigating antitrypanosomal activities and haematological profile of crude extract and fractions of the stem bark of Acacia nilotica and Khaya senegalensis plants against Trypanosoma brucei brucei infected Wistar rats with a view to determining the phytochemical constituents and LD50 of Acacia nilotica and Khaya senegalensis, antitrypanosomal activities of crude extract of Acacia nilotica and Khaya senegalensis against Trypanosoma brucei brucei infected Wistar rats, antitrypanosomal activities of the plant fractions administered to Trypanosoma brucei brucei infected Wistar rats and haematological profile of Trypanosoma brucei brucei infected Wistar rats, before and after administration of crude extract and fractions. The phytochemical constituents and toxicity of the stem bark of both plants were determined by the standard method and the LD50respectively. The methanolic extracts and fractions of the plants was administered to the Wistar rats intraperitoneally daily and the parasitaemia count was determined using the rapid matching method. PCV, WBC and differential counts were determined before and after the administration to ascertain any significant differences. The phytochemical constituents of the stem barks of Acacia nilotica and Khaya senegalensis crude extracts and fractions revealed the following secondary metabolites; Alkaloids, tannins, glycosides, cardiac glycosides, saponins, triterpene, carbohydrates and flavonoids. The LD50 for the crude extract of the stem bark of Acacia nilotica was 707.1mg/kg body weight while the LD50 for the fractions (N-hexane, ethyl acetate and N-butane) was 547.7 mg/kg, 387.3 mg/kg and 707.1 mg/kg body weight respectively. The LD50 for the crude extract of the stem bark of Khaya senegalensis was 547.7mg/kg body weight while the LD50 for the fractions (N-hexane, ethyl acetate and N-butane) was 387.3 mg/kg, 547.7 mg/kg and 223.6 mg/kg body weight respectively. The stem barks of Acacia nilotica and Khaya senegalensis crude extracts (100, 200, 300 and 400mg/kg body weight) and fractions (50, 100, 150 and 200mg/kg body weight) had antitrypanosomal activity. Parasites were cleared from circulation within 12 days of treatment. Haematological indices of Acacia nilotica and Khaya senegalensis in Trypanosoma brucei brucei infected Wistar rats showed that there was no statisticalsignificant change in the packed cell volume, white blood cells and differential counts before and after treatment with all doses of the crude extracts and fractions. The findings in this study provide very useful source for biopharmaceutical industries for the development of antitrypanosomal agents from the stem bark of Acacia nilotica and Khaya senegalensis for therapeutic intervention in the control of African trypanosomiasis. There is need for further extensive work on these plants using different Trypanosoma species in the management of African trypanosomiasis.

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1    Background of the Study
African Trypanosomiasis (African sleeping sickness) is caused by trypanosomes which is found in Sub-Saharan Africa and is threatening more than sixty million lives on daily basis (Abdullahi and Emmanuel, 2012). Trypanosomes are protozoan parasites in the family Trypanosomatidae. Most trypanosomes are transmitted by the vector, tsetse flies (Glossinia spp) which are found only in Sub-Saharan Africa, between latitudes 14o N and 20o S (Bernard and Alain, 2012). The parasites include Trypanosoma brucei gambiense and Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, (cause Human African Trypanosomiasis). Othertrypanosomes primarily affect animals include Trypanosoma congolense, Trypanosoma vivax, Trypanosoma brucei brucei, Trypanosoma simiae and Trypanosoma godfreyi (Bernard and Alain, 2012).
Nigeria’s natural habitation is made up of both savannah and tropical rainforest, which falls within the endemic area in Africa i.e. between latitude 150Nand 290 S. The diverse flora offers a wide spectrum of unique medicinal plants. There are varieties of studies of Nigerian plants used in the traditional management of trypanosomiasis, indicating significant anti-trypanosomal activity (in-vitro/in-vivo); some of which the metabolites responsible have been isolated and reported (Atawodi et al, 2003).
Trypanosoma brucei brucei are unicellular parasites transmitted by the tsetse fly. Theyare the causative agent of African animal trypanosomosis (AAT), also known as Nagana. Trypanosoma brucei brucei is the etiological agent for sleeping sickness which is one ofthe most serious protozoan diseases in Africa (Antia et al., 2009; Simarro et al., 2011).
The disease results in acute, sub acute or chronic disease characterized by intermittent fever, anaemia, occassional diarrhoea, rapid loss of consciousness and often terminates in death (Olukunle et al., 2010). On the basis of mortality, Human African Trypanosomiasis is ranked ninth among 25 infectious diseases in Africa (Bernard and Alain, 2012).
The current chemotherapy of the human trypanosomiasis relies on six drugs namely; Suramin, Pentamidine, Melarsoprol, Eflorinithine, Arsobal and Mel B, five of which were developed over 30 years ago (Steverding and Tyler, 2005). All of the current therapies are unsatisfactory for various reasons, including unacceptable toxicity, poor efficacy, undesirable route of administration, drug resistance and high cost (Fairlamb, 2003). Natural products derived from plants offer novel possibilities to obtain new drugs that are active against trypanosomes (Hoet et al., 2004). The local use of natural plants as primary health remedies is due to their pharmacological properties. Many plant extracts owe their potency to the presence of metabolites. These metabolites are usually found in various parts of the plants like roots, leaves, shoots and barks. Many plants have therefore become sources of important drugs and as such the pharmaceutical industries have exploited medicinal plants as a source of bioactive agents that can be used in the preparation of synthetic medicine (Kinghorn, 1994).
Acacia nilotica belongs to the family Leguminosae. It is called „Bagaruwa? in Hausa,„Gaude? in Fulfulde and „Kangar? in Kanuri. It is commonly found in Guinea and Sudan savannah. Ethanol extract of the leaves have been reported to have anticancer and antioxidant activity (Kalaivani et al., 2010). The plant parts are commonly used, particularly in the Northern and South-Western Nigeria, as broad spectrum antimicrobials, especially in the treatment of dysentery. Khaya senegalensis is a tree in the Meliaceae family. It is widely distributed in the Sub-Saharan savannah. It is called “madachi” in Hausa, “dalechi” in Fulani, “ogonwo” in Yoruba and “ono” in Igbo.
The bark is dark-grey to grey-brown. It is used for carpentry and construction. The bark is used for a variety of medical purposes such as malaria, stomach complaints and headaches. It is applied externally to skin rashes, wounds or any abnormality (Keay et al., 1989).

1.2      Statement of the Research Problem
Trypanosomiasis, a disease of major importance in human and animals has continued to threaten human health and economical development (Kuzoe, 1993; WHO, 2014). The population at risk being about 69 million with one third of this number being at a „very high? to „moderate? risk and the remaining two thirds at a „low? to „very low? risk (WHO, 2014).
Trypanosomiasis is one of the most severe medical problems in Africa, infecting around 50,000 people every year (Ohaeri, 2010), and also affects 50-70 million animals (Ogbadoyi et al., 2007). Trypanosomiasis affects millions of people in Sub-Saharan Africa and is responsible for the death of about half a million patients per year (Barrett, 1999; WHO, 2014).
Anaemia is the most outstanding clinical and laboratory feature of African trypanosomiasis and also the primary cause of death (Bizimana et al., 2006).
Chemotherapy is the most widely used means of controlling the trypanosomiasis. The few registered trypanocides are often associated with severe side effects and required lengthly parenteral administration, lack efficacy and are unaffordable for most of the patients (Legros et al., 2002). Chemotherapy and chemoprophylaxis, which form the most important aspect of control and eradication of trypanosomiasis in African countries, are beset with problems. These include limited repertoire of compounds, resistance to drugs, drug toxicity and protracted treatment protocols (TDR, 1984). Poor clinical efficiency, drug resistance and toxicity are some of the limitations facing programmes targeted at controlling the disease (Onyeyili and Egwu, 1995; Geerts and Holmes, 1998; Legros et al., 2000; Kamuanga, 2003).
Previous studies have shown that the crude extracts of Acacia nilotica and Khaya senegalensis have antitrypanosomal effects (antitypanocidal or antitrypanostatic). Thesubject of this study is to show that fractions of these plant extracts could exhibit different and indeed more effective results.

1.3      Justification of the Study
The high costs and toxicity of synthetic drugs have stimulated renewed interest in plant substitutes. With the emergence of drug resistant trypanosomes, cost-effective new drugs in the treatment of sleeping sickness are required.
Medicinal plants are less expensive and less hazardous to the health than their synthetic counterpart hence medicinal plants with anti-trypanosomal properties have paramount importance for the treatment of trypanosomiasis.
It has been known that plant products play an important role in certain disease control; for example Hoet et al., (2004), stated that natural products derived from plants offer novel possibilities to obtain new drugs that are active against trypanosomes.
Chemotherapy is the most widely used means of controlling the trypanosomiasis. The few registered trypanocides are often associated with severe side effects (Guttering, 1985) and require lengthy parenteral administration, lack efficacy and are unaffordable for most of the patients (Legros et al., 2002). Thus there is the urgent need to source for new, cheap effective non hazardous plants products that can help control trypanosomiasis.

1.4      Aim of the Study
The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-trypanosomal activity of Acacia nilotica and Khaya senegalensis and the haematological profile of Trypanosoma brucei brucei infected Wistar rats.

1.5      Objectives
The specific objectives were to determine:

1. The phytochemical constituents and LD50 of Acacia nilotica and Khaya senegalensis.
2. The antitrypanosomal activities of crude extract of Acacia nilotica and Khaya senegalensis against Trypanosoma brucei brucei infected Wistar rats.
3. The antitrypanosomal activities of the plant fractions administered to Trypanosoma brucei brucei infected Wistar rats.
4. The haematological profile of Trypanosoma brucei brucei infected Wistar rats, before and after administration of crude extract and fractions.