Acute Toxicity and Anthelmintic Effects of Gomphrena serrata L. (Amaranthaceae) Extracts on Adult Worms and Eggs of Haemonchus contortus

Gomphrena serrata L. (Amaranthaceae) is a medicinal plant widely used traditionally in rural areas to treat many diseases, including gastrointestinal helminthiasis of small ruminants. This work aims to estimate the plant extracts phytochemical potential and study the activities of the aqueous decoction (GS_AD), aqueous macerate (GS_AM), and hydroalcoholic macerate (GS_HEM) of Gomphrena serrata extracts on two developmental stages (eggs and adult worms) of Haemonchus contortus. Phytochemical screening was carried out. The acute toxicity test was performed according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) test guideline 423. The Haemonchus contortus eggs hatching inhibition test was performed left to incubate for 48 hours in the presence of the different plant extracts at increasing concentrations of 0.125;0.25;0.5;0.625;1;2;3 mg/mL. For the motility inhibition test on adult worms, the worms were contacted with the extracts at concentrations of 0.75;1;1.25;1.5;2;3;4 mg/mL and left to incubate for 24 hours. Albendazole and levamisole were used as standard. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of tannins, saponins, reducing compounds, coumarins and derivatives, anthocyanins, steroids, triterpenes, and flavonoids. An acute toxicity study showed that the oral LD50 value of G. serrata was estimated to be 5000 mg/kg. All extracts showed an effect on both stages of parasite development. The hatching inhibition rate was 100% from 3 mg/mL for all three extracts. The rate of inhibition of motility was 100% from 4 mg/mL for each extract. HEM is more efficient on eggs and Haemonchus contortus adult worms than other extracts with IC50 of 0.457 mg/mL and LC50 of 1.329 mg/mL, respectively. These results suggest that Gomphrena serrata, a plant used by farmers, has anthelmintic properties.

Anthelmintic activity of Saba senegalensis(A.DC.) Pichon (Apocynaceae) extract against adult worms and eggs of Haemonchus contortus

Objective: To evaluate the anthelmintic property of Saba senegalensis(A.DC) Pichon(Apocynaceae)(S. senegalensis) on Haemonchus contortus that is traditionally used in Burkina Faso for its gastrointestinal parasites treatment.Methods: The lyophilized aqueous decoction of leaves of S. senegalensis at concentrations of 0.10, 1.00, 3.00, 10.00 and 15.00 mg/m L was used on eggs and adult worms of Haemonchus contortus collected from gastrointestinal tract of small ruminant.Results: The LC_(50) on adult worms was 6.79 mg/m L and 3.25 mg/m L for the leaves of S. senegalensis and the levamisole(reference drug), respectively. Inhibition of hatching assay showed a concentration-dependent manner with an inhibition of 93.63% at the concentration of 15.00 mg/m L of S. senegalensis.Conclusions: These results indicate that the aqueous extract of S. senegalensis possesses an anthelmintic property and may justify its use in traditional medicine for the treatment of gastrointestinal parasites.

Multiplex PCR Detection of Alleles Responsible for Benzimidazole- Susceptibility or -Resistance in Natural Populations of Haemonchus contortus

A multiplex PCR was developed to detect benzimidazole-resistance (BZ-R) or -susceptibility (BZ-S) in Haemonchus contortus by amplification with 4 primers of a sequence of the GRU-1 gene of β-tubulin of H. contortus making use of sequence information available in Genbank. The method was based on two allele-non-specific primers and two allele- specific primers. F1 (264 bp) and F3 (799 bp) should be produced in BZ-R, F2 (585 bp) and F3 in BZ-S. With this method, we demonstrated that H. contortus BZ-R strain from Australia showed F1 and F3, and the worm BZ-S strain from Shanghai did F2 and F3. Sequence analysis of the isotype 1 gene of β-tubulin of BZ-R from Australia and BZ-S from Shanghai showed the code in residue 200 of the gene was respectively TAC and TTC. The LD50 of albendazole of the Australian BZ- R strain was 0.54 μg mL-1, the Shanghai BZ-S strain was only 0.0023 μg mL-1 by EHA (egg hatch assay). The multiplex PCR could determinate the genotype of single adult worm or several third stage larvae and was performed on at least 50 ng of genomic DNA. BZ-R H. contortus were not detected in Shihezi and Yining of the Xinjiang, Wuhe of the Anhui Province, Nanjing and Xuzhou of the Jiangsu Province. The LD50 of the H. contortus from these locations to albendazole as determined by EHA varied between 0.0023-0.0032 μg mL-1. The result indicated that the multiplex PCR could be used to differentiate BZ-R and BZ-S of H. contortus and that the BZ-R situation of H. contortus was not serious in China.

The Anti-parasitic Effect of Extract of Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn Is Related to Its Anti-inflammatory, Analgesic and Anthelmintic Activities on Haemonchus contortus

Background:Ceiba pentandra is a medicinal plant used as alternative therapy to control parasitic nematodes in livestock.Objective:This study aims to investigate anti-parasitic effect of aqueous stem back extract of Ceiba pentandra(L.)Gaertn through the evaluation of its anthelmintic,anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities.Methods:In vitro,the efficacy of aqueous extract(75 to 2400μg·mL−1)diluted in phosphate buffered saline(PBS)was tested against three stages of the life cycle of Haemonchus contortus through larval migration inhibition assay(LMIA),egg hatch assay(EHA),and adult worms motility inhibition assay(AMIA).In vivo,anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive properties of the aqueous extract(150 and 300 mg·kg−1)was evaluated on rodent using phlogistic and algic chemicals.Results:Significant inhibition activity(P<0.05)was obtained on EHA with the greatest inhibition of 46.63%obtained at 2400μg·mL−1.The plant treatment dramatically(P<0.05)inhibited L3 larval migration as compared to PBS.The highest inhibition rate was 53.33%at 1200μg·mL−1.Adding of polyvinylpolyrrolidone(PVPP)to the extract significantly(P<0.01)reduced at 38.6%the activity of the plant extract on larval migration compared to extract without PVPP.The Ceiba pentandra extract reduced(P<0.05)worm motility after 24 h post exposure as compared to control.In vitro,aqueous extract significantly(P<0.05)inhibited the paw inflammation induced by carragenine,with a significant(P<0.05)reduction of the number of abdominal contortions induced by acetic acid to 41.11%at 300 mg·kg−1 and the paw licking time induced by formaline in both phases to 57.22%and 63.59%at 300 mg·kg−1 likened to control.Conclusions:In vitro results suggest that,this plant possess anti-parasitic properties.Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of C.pentandra can contribute to its anti-parasitic property.

Smart Man＇s Sericea Lespedeza and Worm Control： A Review

Sericea lespedeza （Lespedeza cuneata （Dum. Cours.） G. Don.） has historically been called ＂poor man＇s alfalfa＂, because of its ability to grow on marginal soil with the minimal inputs of lime or fertilizer. With recent research detailing the potential health benefits of this forage to animals, it may be time for a new nickname. Although sericea lespedeza has been used for soil conservation and as an inexpensive （low-input） source of pasture or hay crop for nearly 100 years, research over the last 10-15 years has demonstrated the excellent bioactivity of this plant against infection with gastrointestinal nematodes （Haemonchus contortus） and protozoan parasites （Eimeria spp.） in livestock. This bioactivity, which has been attributed to a unique type of condensed tannins （CT）, has been confirmed in both fresh （grazed） and dried （hay, meal, pellets） forms of sericea lespedeza in a number of studies with sheep, goats, and cattle. There is on-going research with this forage to determine the effect of ensiling on its bioactive properties and to validate its anti-parasitic effects on-farm. Future research will focus on determining the mode of action of sericea lespedeza tannins against internal parasites and the interplay between the nutritional value and the health benefits of this plant.