Anthelmintic activity of three selected ethnobotanical plant extracts against Strongyloides venezuelensis

Abstract

The agropastoral farmers have employed Turraea vogelii (TVL), Senna podocarpa (SPL), and Jaundea pinnata (JPL) leaves for treating various diseases, including intestinal parasites in livestock and the human population in Nigeria. Gastrointestinal nematodes are highly significant to livestock production and people's health, and natural products are interesting as sources of new drugs. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of extracts derived from these plants in treating parasitic infections using third-stage infective larvae (L3) of Strongyloides venezuelensis. We obtained crude extracts using n-gexane (Hex), ethyl acetate (Ea), and methanol (Met). The extracts were analyzed for their phytochemical composition, and their ability to prevent hemolysis were tested. The mean concentrations of total phenols in SPL Hex, SPL Ea, and SPL Met were 92.3 ± 0.3, 103.0 ± 0.4, and 128.2 ± 0.5 mg/100 g, respectively. Total tannin concentrations for JPL Ea, SPL Ea, SPL Hex, and TVL Hex were 60.3 ± 0.1, 89.2 ± 0.2, 80.0 ± 0.1, and 66.6 ± 0.3 mg/100 g, respectively. The mean lethal concentration (LC₅₀) at 72 h for JPL Ea 39 (26–61) μg/mL. SPL Ea was 39 (34–45) μg/mL, and TVL Hex 31 (26–36) μg/mL. The antiparasitic activities of the extracts against L3 were dose- and time-dependent. All the extracts were slightly hemolytic to the erythrocytes. In this study, the plant extract tested demonstrated significant anti-S. venezuelensis activity. These phytobotanical extracts could be used to create formulations for the potential treatment of helminthiasis in animals and humans.