Evaluation of in vitro activity of essential oils against trypanosoma brucei brucei and trypanosoma evansi

Essential oils (eos) from cymbopogon citratus (cc),eucalyptus citriodora (ec),eucalyptus camaldulensis (ed),and citrus sinensis (cs) were obtained by hydrodistillation process. the eos were evaluated in vitro for activity against trypanosoma brucei brucei (tbb) and trypanosoma evansi (t. evansi). the eos were found to possess antitrypanosomal activity in vitro in a dose-dependent pattern in a short period of time. the drop in number of parasite over time was achieved doses of 0.4g/ml,0.2g/ml,and 0.1g/ml for all the eos. the concentration of 0.4g/ml cc was more potent at 3 minutes and 2 minutes for tbb and t. evansi,respectively. the gc-ms analysis of the eos revealed presence of cyclobutane (96.09) in cs,6-octenal (77.11) in ec,eucalyptol (75) in ed,and citral (38.32) in cc among several other organic compounds. the results are discussed in relation to trypanosome chemotherapy. © 2010 nathan habila et al.