Anthelmintic activity of aqueous extract of Zanthoxylum rhoifolium Lam. leaves (Rutaceae)

• Published in: Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria Vol. 18 Suppl 1; p. 43
• Main Authors: Peneluc, Taíse, Domingues, Luciana Ferreira, de Almeida, Gisele Nunes, Ayres, Maria Consuelo Caribé, Moreira, Eduardo Luiz Trindade, da Cruz, Ana Carla Ferreira, dos Santos Calmon de Bittencourt, Thereza Cristina Bório, de Almeida, Maria Angela Ornelas, Batatinha, Maria José Moreira
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Portuguese
• Published: Brazil 01.12.2009
• Subjects: Animals; Anthelmintics - pharmacology; Helminths - drug effects; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Leaves; Water; Zanthoxylum
• ISSN: 0103-846X
• DOI: 10.4322/rbpv.018e1008

The study evaluated the anthelmintic activity of aqueous extract of Zanthoxylum rhoifolium leaves in two experiments. In vitro test, cultures of goat fecal samples were treated with different concentrations of extract (134.5 to 335.0 mg.mL(-1)). In vivo test was composed of 20 sheep: G1: treated with 0.63 g.kg(-1), during four days; G2: same dose, for eight days; G3: ivermectin (200 microg.kg(-1)) and G4 untreated group. In vitro results showed a reduction of Haemonchus spp, Trichostrongylus spp. and Oesophagostomum spp. larvae greater than 95% in the concentrations between 335.0 and 193.7 mg.mL(-1). Faecal egg counting reduction was 51, 56 and 90% in G1, G2 and G3, respectively, while immature stages and adults ranged from 0 to 91% in G1 and from 26 to 94% in G2. Ivermectin effectiveness was 99% for L4 and L5 of H. contortus and 100% for other nematodes species. Clinical and biochemical parameters have remained in the normality and histophatologic analyses did not show alteration suggesting absence of toxicity. Although the great effectiveness of Z. rhoifolium leaves extract in vitro test, it displayed poor efficiency in vivo regarding gastrointestinal nematodes reduction.