Anthelmintic Activity of Extracts of Spondias mombin Against Gastrointestinal Nematodes of Sheep: Studies In Vitro and In Vivo

Abstract

This study was carried out to validate the efficacy of Spondias mombin, used locally as an anthelmintic, and to standardize the effective dose of the plant extract required for worm control in livestock. In vitro and in vivo studies were conducted to determine the direct anthelmintic effect of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of S. mombin towards different ovine gastrointestinal nematodes. A larval development assay (LDA) was used to investigate the in vitro effect of extracts on strongyle larvae. Another study was conducted in vivo to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of the extracts administered orally at dose rates of 125, 250, 500 mg/kg to sheep naturally infected with gastrointestinal nematodes. Twenty sheep were selected on the basis of positive faecal egg counts (750 epg). The sheep were allocated randomly to a non-medicated control group (A) or to groups given 125 mg/kg (B), 250 mg/kg (C) or 500 mg/kg (D) of extract, respectively. Sheep in groups B-D were given extracts orally on two days. Individual faecal egg counts were performed on days 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12. The presence of S. mombin extracts in in vitro cultures of larvae decreased the survival of L3 larvae. The LC50 of the aqueous extract of S. mombin was 0.907 mg/ml, while the LC50 of the ethanolic extract was 0.456 mg/ml. This difference in LC50 was statistically significant (p > 0.05). The mean percentage faecal egg reduction of sheep drenched with 500 mg/kg S. mombin extracts was 15.0%, 27.5%, 65.0%, 65.0%, 100.0% against Haenmonchus spp., Trichostrongylus spp., Oesophagostomunm spp., Strongyloides spp. and Trichuris spp. respectively, on day 12. Extracts of S. mombin could find application in the control of helminths in livestock.

Phytochemical, antioxidant and microbial inhibitory effects of Spondias mombin leaf and stem bark extracts

“…The study showed high presence of tannins in both leaf and stem bark extracts supporting the strong use of Spondias mombin in healing wounds, various ulcers, frost-bite and burns in traditional herbal medicine (1). The tannins, flavonoids and alkaloids as seen in the results give credence to the reported anti-microbial (24) anti-viral (18), and antihelminthic (25) properties of Spondias mombin.…”

Atividade anti-helmíntica do extrato aquoso das folhas de Zanthoxylum rhoifolium Lam. (Rutaceae)

“…No presente trabalho, observou-se que os animais do grupo G2, tratados com o dobro do tratamento do G1, revelaram potencial anti-helmíntico para três gêneros de nematoides, exceto Haemonchus. Essa não similaridade pode ser consequente à ação de micro-organismos do rúmen ou de determinados compostos sobre os constituintes químicos ativos, por influência na absorção ou solubilidade (ADEMOLA et al, 2005;BATATINHA et al, 2004). A microflora ruminal pode ser responsável pela alteração do metabolismo ou do mecanismo de ação de alguns nutrientes, medicamentos ou materiais bioativos, quando administrados oralmente (VANDAMME; ELLIS, 2004).…”

The leaf extract ofSpondias mombinL. displays an anti-inflammatory effect and suppresses inducible formation of tumor necrosis factor-α and nitric oxide (NO)

“…The leaves have also been demonstrated to have antihelminthic (Ademola et al, 2005) and abortifacient (Offiah and Anyanwu, 1989;Nworu et al, 2007) properties. In traditional medical practice of southern Nigeria, the freshly boiled aqueous leaf extract of SM is used to treat dizziness, especially after childbirth, while the bark is used to treat mothers after delivery (Onwuka, 1992).…”