Anthelmintic activity of Cassia occidentalis L. methanolic leaf extract on Ascaridia galli and Heterakis gallinarum and its acute toxicity

Authors

  • John N. Kateregga College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
  • Maria Nabayunga College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
  • Patrick Vudriko College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
  • James G. Ndukui College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda

Keywords:

Cassia occidentalis, Heterakis gallinarum, Ascaridia galli, Anthelmintic activity, Acute toxicity

Abstract

Background: Cassia occidentalis is traditionally used to treat helminth infestations in poultry. We investigated the in-vitro anthelmintic activity of the methanolic leaf extract of this plant against Heterakis gallinarum and Ascaridia galli worms and its acute toxicity.

Methods: Leaves of the plant were air dried, ground into powder and extracted with 70% methanol, filtered and dried at 50  into a dark green semi-solid mass. The worms were isolated from fresh intestines of local chicken and pheasants or turkeys freshly slaughtered in Kampala markets. They were placed in conical flasks containing Goodwin’s solution, kept in a water bath set at 39°C and exposed to 8, 12, 16, 20 and 24mg/ml extract concentrations. Percent worm mortality was determined for each concentration at 12h intervals. piperazine and ivermectin were used as positive controls. For acute toxicity evaluation, Swiss mice were divided into 5 groups (n=6) and administered per os with extract doses of 5,000, 10,000, 15,000, 20,000 and 25,000mg/Kg. The EC50 was determined by a plot of mortality probits against log extract concentration.

Results There was a concentration-dependent relationship with worm mortality. The mean worm mortality for A. galli was significantly higher for the extract than for piperazine at 16 and 20mg/ml (p<0.05) and 24 mg/ml concentrations (p<0.01). Activity against H. gallinarum was not significantly different from that of ivermectin. The EC50 of the extract was 11.78mg/ml for A. galli and 17.78mg/ml for H. gallinarum. The extract is safe according to OECD acute toxicity guidelines since no mortality and toxicity signs were observed in mice even at 25,000mg/kg.

Conclusions: The study demonstrated the anthelmintic activity of C. occidentalis and this could explain its use in traditional medicine as a remedy against helminth infections over the generations in many parts of Uganda.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

Guèye EF. Family poultry research and development in low-income food-deficit countries: approaches and prospects. Outlook on Agriculture. 2002;31:13-21.

Pym RAE, Guerne BE Hoffmann I. The relative contribution of indigenous chicken breeds to poultry meat and egg production and consumption in the developing countries of Africa and Asia. Proceedings XII European Poultry Conference. EPC Verona, Italy: CD-ROM; September 2006: 10-14.

Alabi OJ, Ngambi JW, Norris D Mabelebele M. Effect of egg weight on hatchability and subsequent performance of Potchefstroom Koekoek chicks. Asian J. Anim. Vet Adv. 2012;7:718-25.

Njagi LW, Nyaga PN, Mbuthia PG, Bebora LC, Michieka JN, Kibe JK, Minga UM. Prevalence of Newcastle disease virus in village indigenous chickens in varied agro-ecological zones in Kenya. Livest Res Rural Dev. 2010;22:95

Matur BM. Prevalence of some gastrointestinal parasites in pullets of chickens (Gallus gallus domestica) in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, Nigeria Journal of tropical Biosciences. 2002;2:78-82.

Seddiek SHA, Mobarak MA, Mobarak AA. The effect of Artemisia herba alba on chickens infested with Ascaridia galli in comparison with piperazine citrate. Mansura Vet Med J. 2007;9:165-78.

Papini R, Caccuittolo E. Observations on the occurrence of Heterakis gallinarum in laying hens kept on soil. Ital. J Anim Sci. 2008;7:487-93.

McDougald LR. Blackhead Disease (Histomoniasis) in Poultry: A Critical Review. Avian Diseases. 2005;49: 462–476.

UBOS. Uganda National Household Survey by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics. Report on the Socio-Economic Model 2005/2006.

Murray VS, Wiseman HH, Dawlings S, Morgan I Housemann IM. Health effect of organophosphate sheep dips. British Veterinary Journal. 1992;305:1090-8.

Maingi NH, Bjorn SM, Tharmsborg HO, Bogh P, Nansen J. A survey of anthelmintic resistance in nematode parasites of goats in Denmark. Vet. Parasitol. 1996;66:53-66.

Yadav JP, Arya V, Yadav S, Panghal M, Kumar S, Dhankhar S. Cassia occidentalis: A review on its ethnobotany, phytochemical and pharmacological process. 2010Jun;81(4):223-30. Fitoterapia, doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2009.09.008.

Nalule AS, Mbaria JM, Olila D, Kimenju JW. Ethnopharmacological practices in management of livestock helminthes by pastoral communities in the drylands of Uganda. Livestock Research for Rural Development. 2011;23:6.

Choi SC. Interval estimation of the LD50 based on an up-and-down experiment. Biometrics. 1990;46:485-92

Tedong L, Dzeufiet PDD, Dimo T, Asongalem, EA, Sokeng SN, Flejou JF, Callard P, Kamtchouing P. Acute and subchronic toxicity of Anacardium occidentale Linn (Anacardiaceae) leaves hexane extract in mice. Afr. J. Traditional Alternative Med. 2007;4:140-7.

Ogwal-Okeng JW, Obua C, Anokbonggo WW. Acute Toxicity Effects of Methanolic Extract of Fagara chalybeum Root Bark. African Health Sciences. 2003;3:124-126.

Del Castillo J, De Mello WC, Morales T. Mechanism of the paralysing action of Piperazine on ascaris muscle Brit J Pharmacol. 1964;22:463-77.

Imming P, Sinning C, Meyer A. Drugs, their targets and the nature and number of drug targets. Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2006;5:821-34.

Lullman H, Morh K, Bieger D. Colour Atlas of Pharmacology. New York: Theme Medical Publishers, Inc;1993: 52-98.

Wasswa P, Olila D. The in-vitro ascaricidal activity of selected indigenous medicinal plants used in ethno veterinary practices in Uganda. Afr J Traditional Alternative Med. 2006;3:94-103.

Muyibi SA, Olorode BR, Onyeyili PA, Osunkwo UA. Muhammad BY, Ajagbonna OP. Haematological and histopathological changes of Cassia occidentalis leaf extract in rats. Nig J Nat Prod Med. 2000;4:48-51.

Makut MD, Gyar SD, Pennap GRI, Anthony D. Phytochemical screening and antimicrobial activity of ethanolic and methanolic extracts of leaf and bark of Khaya senegalensis. African Journal of Biotechnology. 2008;7:1216-9.

Prashant T, Bimlesh K, Mandeep K, Gurpreet K, Harleen K. Phytochemical screening and Extraction. Internationale Pharmaceutica Sciencia. 2011;1:98-106.

Martin RJ. Modes of action of anthelmintic drugs. The Veterinary Journal. 1997;154:11-34.

Hoste H, Jackson F, Athanasiadou S, Thamsborg SM Hoskin SO. The effects of tannin-rich plants on parasitic nematodes in ruminants. Trends in Parasitology. 2006;22:253-61.

Githiori JB, Athanasiadou S, Thamsborg SM. Use of plants in novel approaches for control of gastrointestinal helminths in livestock with emphasis on small ruminants. Veterinary Parasitology 2006;139:308-20.

Min BR, Barry TN, Attwood GT, McNabb WC. The effect of condensed tannins on the nutrition and health of ruminants fed fresh temperate forages: a review. Animal Feed Science and Technology 2003;106:3–19.

Satou T, Koga M, Matsuhashi R, Koike K, Tada I Nikaido T. Assay of nematocidal activity of isoquinoline alkaloids using third stage larvae of Strongyloides ratti and S. venezuelensis. Veterinary Parasitology. 2002;104:131–8.

Tarnopolsky MA, Beal MF. Potential for creatine and other therapies targeting cellular energy dysfunction in neurological disorders. Annals of Neurology. 2001;49:561–74.

Kaufmann J. Parasitic Infections of Domestic Animals: A Diagnostic Manual. Switzerland: Birkhauser Verlag AG, Basel; 1996: 423.

Wynn SG, Fougere BJ. Introduction: Why use herbal medicine. In: Wynn SG, Fougere (Ed). Veterinary Herbal medicine: Library of Congress cataloging-in publication data; 2007: 695. ISBN: 10:0-323-029981.

OECD. Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development guidelines for testing chemicals. 2001.

Downloads

Published

2017-01-23

How to Cite

Kateregga, J. N., Nabayunga, M., Vudriko, P., & Ndukui, J. G. (2017). Anthelmintic activity of Cassia occidentalis L. methanolic leaf extract on Ascaridia galli and Heterakis gallinarum and its acute toxicity. International Journal of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology, 3(1), 114–119. Retrieved from https://www.ijbcp.com/index.php/ijbcp/article/view/959

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles