Ultrastructural observations on tegumental surface of Raillietina echinobothrida and its alterations caused by root‐peel extract of Millettia pachycarpa

Abstract

Millettia pachycarpa Benth (Leguminosae) has a usage in traditional medicine system practiced among the Lushai tribes of Mizoram, a state in North East India, who customarily consume the aqueous extract of the root peel of the plant to get rid of intestinal worm infections. The crude ethanol, methanol, and acetone fractions of the plant were assayed against Raillietina echinobothrida, the intestinal cestode parasite of domestic fowl, to authenticate the putative anthelmintic efficacy and cestocidal potential in particular of the plants. In vitro exposure of the worm to the extract at a concentration of 25 mg/mL phosphate buffered saline (at 37 degrees C +/- 1 degrees C) revealed distortion and disruption of mitochondria, nucleus, nucleolus, nuclear membrane, basal lamina, and tegumental vacuolization in the distal cytoplasm leading to scar formation in the surface. The possible use of the plant as a potential anthelmintic against cestode parasite is discussed.

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

“…This is due to the fact that the tegumental and/or cuticular structures are the primary parasite-host interfaces, vital for absorption of nutrients and perception of the surrounding micro-environment provided by the host (William et al 2001;Mckinstry et al 2003;Rivera et al 2004;Xiao et al 2004;Roy et al 2008). Histological studies have revealed that anthelmintic agents induce considerable changes in the internal structural features of helminths, resulting in loss of normal cellular conformity in vital tissues (Roy et al 2008;Dasgupta et al 2010). In the present investigation, the plant extract was shown to cause reduction in the staining activity of the tegumental enzymes.…”

“…Control parasites were incubated in PBS having 1% DMSO. Three replicates for each set of incubation medium were used and the time taken for attaining a paralytic state as well as death was recorded as described earlier (Roy et al 2008). Immediately after the onset of paralysis, the parasites incubated in 20 mg of plant extract were selected for histochemical and biochemical studies because of the early effect of the dose when compared with other concentrations.…”

“…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).…”

Ultrastructural alterations of the tegument of Raillietina echinobothrida treated with the stem bark of Acacia oxyphylla (Leguminosae)

“…The crude ethanol extract and its acetone fraction were made following standard protocol as described elsewhere (Roy et al, 2008). In all, 2.0 g crude ethanol extract was obtained from 100 g dried material which gave about 0.4 g of acetone fraction.…”

Effect of Allium sativum on the Carbohydrate Metabolism of Haemonchus contortus

“…Nowadays, plant materials are employed throughout the industrialized and developing countries as home remedies, over the counter drugs, and ingredients for the pharmaceutical industry. A large number of plant products are being used to combat gastro-intestinal parasites of livestock and also humans [14][15][16][17][18][19][20]. Allium sativum, commonly known as garlic, is one of the species belonging to the family Alliaceae.…”