Therapeutic efficacy of Zanthoxylum rhetsa DC extract against experimental Hymenolepis diminuta (Cestoda) infections in rats

Abstract

Zanthoxylum rhetsa DC (Rutaceae), commonly called prickly ash, is used in the folk medicine of Naga tribes in India as a deworming remedy. In the present study, the therapeutic efficacy of Z. rhetsa leaf extract was investigated against experimental Hymenolepis diminuta (Cestoda) infections in albino rats. The efficacy of extract was determined on the basis of reduction in the eggs per gram of feces (EPG) counts and worm load following treatment with 100, 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg, p.o. doses of plant extract. For comparison's sake, animals were also treated with a reference drug, praziquantel at 5 and 25 mg/kg body weight doses. Three treatment regimes were followed to monitor the effects of extract on cestode parasite: (1) Treatment on day 2-4 postinoculation (pi) of cysticercoids against the larval stages; (2) treatment on day 8-10 pi against the immature stages; and (3) treatment on day 21-25 pi against the adult stages of parasite. The extract revealed its maximum efficacy against the larval stage, where its 800 mg/kg dose showed a worm count reduction of 86.60%, compared to 80.00% by the reference drug, praziquantel (5 mg/kg dose). The EPG counts also decreased drastically from 23,389 ± 2,372 to 0 in the same treatment group, compared to 33,161 ± 1,383 recorded in the control group. The efficacy of extract was found to be of moderate level against the immature and adult stages of parasite. The present investigation holds the evidence that the leaves of Z. rhetsa possess significant anticestodal property and supports its use in folk medicine.

Anthelmintic effect of a methanol extract of leaves of Dregea volubilis on Paramphistomum explanatum

“…Plant-derived extracts containing several secondary metabolites are responsible for anthelmintic effect (Aswar et al 2008;Athanasiadou et al 2007;Balamurugan and Selvarajan 2009;Yadav and Tangpu 2009). We propose that the phytochemicals such as saponins, triterpenoids, steroids, etc.…”

“…It is commonly called as amphistome parasite due to large acetabulum found near posterior end of the body (Lal 2006;Rhee et al 1986). Several plants have been tested for their anthelmintic efficacy (Agaie and Onyeyili 2007;Aswar et al 2008;Elango and Rahuman 2011;Ferraz et al 2010;Magalhaes et al 2010;Roy and Swargiary 2009;Schmahl et al 2010;Tandon et al 1997;Wu et al 2011;Yadav and Tangpu 2009).…”

Anthelmintic effects and toxicity of Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. in rodent models

“…However, there are only few studies where folk medicines have been systematically studied using both, the in vitro as well as in vivo experimentations, besides any remarks on the safety profiles of medicinal plants [25,32]. In the present study, the whole plant extract of C. dactylon showed the significant and dose-dependent effect on paralysis and mortality of adult H. diminuta parasites.…”

“…In most previous bioprospecting studies, the scientific validations of medicinal plants have mainly been done using different in vitro assays [25,32]. However, there are only few studies where folk medicines have been systematically studied using both, the in vitro as well as in vivo experimentations, besides any remarks on the safety profiles of medicinal plants [25,32].…”

“…For in vivo experiments, the lifecycle of H. diminuta was maintained in the laboratory by alternating the hosts, Wistar rats, and Flour beetles [25].…”