Anthelmintic activity of some Mediterranean browse plants against parasitic nematodes

Abstract

The anthelmintic properties of tannin-rich plants are being explored as an alternative to chemical drugs. Most data have been acquired on legume forages, but only few on browse plants. The present study aimed to (i) screen the in vitro effects of extracts from 7 Mediterranean plants on Haemonchus contortus, (ii) verify the role of tannins using an inhibitor, polyvinyl polypyrrolidone (PVPP) and (iii) verify the in vivo effects of extracts from 4 plants. Significant inhibition was shown in vitro using a larval migration inhibition (LMI) assay for all extracts except that from Olea europaea var. koroneiki. After adding PVPP, the LMI values were restored to control levels for all plants except Pistacia lentiscus and Ceratonia siliqua, confirming a role for tannins in the activity. In the in vivo experiment, 48 lambs composed 6 groups, depending on diet. On Day 0, groups G1-G5 received H. contortus and Trichostrongylus colubriformis larvae and G6 remained uninfected. The various diets were distributed from Days 14 to 45: P. lentiscus (G1), Quercus coccifera (G2), C. siliqua (G3), Onobrychis viciifolia (G4), or Medicago sativa for the 2 control groups (G5, G6). Egg excretion, packed cell volumes (PCVs) and inorganic phosphate were measured weekly throughout the entire experimental period. At slaughter, the worms were enumerated and their fecundity assessed. Consumption of the 4 browser plants did not provoke differences in pathophysiological measurements but there were significant decreases in egg excretion, mainly explained by significant decreases in worm fecundity for both species, without any statistical difference in worm numbers.

Efeito anti-helmíntico de taninos condensados em nematódeos gastrintestinais de ovinos (Ovis aries)

“…Algumas pesquisas científicas conduzidas com diferentes espécies vegetais demonstram propriedades antiparasitárias em ruminantes (NIEZEN et al, 1995;ATHANASIADOU et al, 2001;MINHO et al, 2008a;MANOLARAKI et al, 2010;ALONSO-DÍAZ et al, 2011;OLIVEIRA et al, 2011, VON SON-DE FERNEX et al, 2012.…”

Potentilla fulgens (Family Rosaceae), a medicinal plant of north-east India: a natural anthelmintic?

“…To control helminth infection, a variety of commercial anthelmintics are available; however, due to increasing development of anthelmintic resistance, the limited availability of commercial drugs to the rural people as well as the high cost of such synthetic medicines, a growing interest in the ethno-veterinary approach to examine the anthelmintic properties of plants traditionally used by local farmers in different parts of the globe is emerging (Kaplan 2004;Jegede et al 2007;Mali and Mehta 2008). A large number of plant products are being used for treatment of gastro-intestinal parasites of livestock and also humans (Kozan et al 2006;Lyndem et al 2008;Roy et al 2008;Al-Shaibani et al 2009;Kosalge and Fursule 2009;Challam et al 2010;Manolaraki et al 2010).…”

Medicinal Plants from Jordan in the Treatment of Diabetes: Traditional Uses vs.In VitroandIn VivoEvaluations – Part 2

“…Phenolics: mainly gallotannins and proanthocyanidins, tannins, flavonol-glycosides, and traces of isoflavonoids [109][110][111][112]. Tannins [113] Significantly decreased the glucose response to and glycemic index of fibers-enriched food in type 2 diabetic subjects. It also tended to decrease their insulinemic response and insulinemic index [114].…”