Combination therapy of vitamin C and phenolics-rich fraction of Khaya senegalensis stem bark extract against Trypanosoma brucei brucei infection

The phenolics-rich fraction of Khaya senegalensis A. Juss (Meliaceae) stem bark extract (pfks) has been previously reported to possess potent antitrypanosomal activity at 300 mg/kg body weight (bw) but could not completely prevent disease-induced anemia and organ damage in addition to being slightly hepatotoxic at the same dose. Therefore, the effects of a combined administration of low dose pfks and vitamin C on the severity of Trypanosoma brucei brucei infection in rats were investigated. Daily oral administration of a combined treatment of pfks (100 mg/kg bw) and vitamin C (100 mg/kg bw) for seven days significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the number of T. brucei brucei in the bloodstream compared to infected untreated control with an ED₅₀ of 51.15 mg/kg bw. Also, the trypanosome-induced pathological alterations such as anemia, hepatic and renal damages were significantly (p < 0.05) prevented by the same dosage of the combined treatment. Thus, the results obtained suggest that the combined treatment of a low dose of pfks and vitamin C is therapeutically potent as antitrypanosomal regimen and could effectively ameliorate the trypanosome-induced anemia and organ damage.