Screening of Aloe otallensis Exudate and Its Effect on Leishmania aethiopica

Background and objectives: The different Aloaceae plant extracts have been tested and found to contain components with anti leishmanial activity. Our study was conducted to assure anti leishmanial activity of the methanol extract of Aloe otallensis on the promastigot stage of Leishmania aethiopica as compared to currently used drugs and also tried to screen its phytochemical constitutes. Methods: Aloe otallensis leaf exudate was extracted by using methanol solvent and phytochemical screening was done using the method mentioned by Trease and Evans as well as the extract was evaluated for in vitro anti leishmanial activity against Leishmania aethiopica which was taken from the Black Lion Specialized Hospital parasitology unit. The result was compared with currently used drug like; Sodium stibogluconate, milfostin and paramomycin. Result: The extract has a good anti leishmanial activity with an IC50 of 0.041 μg/mL on L. aethiopica (LDC/134). The experimental result shows that the extract has better anti leishimanial activity on L. aethiopica than paramomycin and milfostin but less activity than sodium stibogluconate. The data analyses was done by pad graph prison version 5 software after it was read by ELISA reader at the wave length of 650 nm. The phytochemical screening of aloe otallensis exudate showed the presence of phenol, alkaloid and saponin. Conclusion: Aloe otallensis exudate methanol extract was found to have a good anti leishmaniasis activity against L. Aethiopica and this may be attributed to phenol, alkaloid and saponin present in the plant. Even though this is our conclusion it needs further investigations to confirm which constituent(s) is/are responsible for such effect and at how many concentrations.