Antiprotozoal potential of aqueous, methanolic, and dichloromethane crude extracts of Kenyan Physalis peruviana L (Cape gooseberry)

Abstract

Physalis peruviana L, a plant traditionally used for treating infectious diseases, belongs to the Solanaceae family. This study aimed to investigate its potential as a source of antiprotozoal agents by evaluating its activity against three medically significant protozoan parasites: Entamoeba histolytica, Leishmania major, and Trypanosoma congolense. The objectives of the study were to determine the in vitro antiprotozoal efficacy of aqueous, methanolic, and dichloromethane extracts from different parts of P. peruviana (leaves, stem, and fruits), and also to evaluate the acute toxicity of the extracts in animal models. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for the extracts was assessed for each protozoan. For Entamoeba histolytica, the dichloromethane extracts from the root, stem, and leaves showed MIC values of 500 µg/ml, while the control drug metronidazole had an MIC of 125 µg/ml. For Leishmania major, methanolic extracts from the leaves and stems had an MIC of 2000 µg/ml, compared to control drugs Liposomal amphotericin B and Pentostam with MICs of 62.5 µg/ml and 125 µg/ml, respectively. The extracts exhibited notable activity against all three protozoan species, with the dichloromethane stem extract showing the highest activity against T. congolense, with an MIC of 10 µg/ml, compared to the control drugs Veriben and Samorin, both with MICs of 1 µg/ml. These results were statistically significant (p<0.05) when compared to the control drugs. Toxicity studies revealed no adverse effects in rats at dosages up to 5000 mg/kg, suggesting the extracts are safe for further development. In conclusion, P. peruviana extracts show potential as a source of novel antiprotozoal agents, warranting further research with purified compounds.