In Vitro Evaluation of Extract of Solanum torvum (Solanaceae) Fruits for Anti-trichomonal Activity

The treatment of trichomoniasis has been based on the use of metronidazole and its derivatives but has now been halted because of its deleterious effects on DNA. The methanolic extract (STF) of Solanum torvum D. Don. fruits was evaluated for phytotherapeutic activities against Trichomonas gallinarum in vitro. The crude extract STF was purified by partitioning into petroleum ether (STF₁), chloroform (STF₂), ethyl acetate (STF₃) aqueous (STF₄) and STF_5precipitate fractions. Furthermore STF₁, STF₂ and STF₃ were respectively subjected to vacuum liquid chromatograph VLC and obtained sub fractions STF _11–17, STF _21–28 and STF_31–37. The crude extract STF, partition fractions STF_1–5 and sub fractions STF_11–17, STF _21–28, and STF _31–37 were assayed for anti-trichomonal activity. All the fractions including the STF _5precipitate had anti-trichomonal activities at 24h and 48h. The STF_{5 precipitate} with LD₅₀ and LD₉₀ at 24h and 48h of 25.84b±5.12, 70.36b±15.64 and 13.87c±1.61, 42.94b±6.20 (µg/ml) respectively showed the highest activity when compared with the standard drug, metronidazole. The fractions STF₁, STF₂ and STF₃, had LD₉₀ at 48h as 72.76b±1.72, 119.39b±3.90 and 114.54b±36.08 (µg/ml) while sub fractions STF₁₃, STF₁₄, STF₂₃ and STF₃₄ with corresponding values LD₉₀ at 48h of 67.18d±14.90, 88.07cd±4.78, 89.95c±7.99 and 84.03b±8.03 (µg/ml). The partition fractions STF₁, STF₂ and STF₃, sub fractions STF₁₃, STF₁₄, STF₂₃, STF₃₄ and the standard drug did not show significant difference (P>0.05) in their bioactivities. In conclusion, the fruits of Solanum torvum are a potential drug source for the treatment of trichomonasis.