Ethnobotanical survey and anthelmintic activity of Origanum compactum and Trigonella foenum graecum extracts against Ascaris

Abstract

Helminthiasis remains a ubiquitous parasitic disease worldwide, affecting a substantial proportion of the global population. However, the growing problem of anthelmintic resistance, combined with the high cost and limited accessibility of conventional pharmaceuticals, has intensified the search for plant-based alternatives in parasite control strategies. An ethnobotanical survey was carried out to identify medicinal plants used for treating diarrhea and parasitic infections in Morocco. Informed by ethnobotanical evidence, Origanum compactum (oregano) and Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek) were selected for an in vitro assessment of their anthelmintic properties. The efficacy of their ethanolic extracts was systematically evaluated against Ascaris eggs across graded concentrations (1.25, 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/mL). Furthermore, distilled water and albendazole were employed as negative and positive controls, respectively. In addition, acute toxicity assays and comprehensive phytochemical screening were performed for plant extracts. The statistical significance of the observed anthelmintic activity was subsequently evaluated using analysis of variance (ANOVA test). The results revealed that the ethanolic extracts of O. compactum and T. foenum-graecum were non-toxic in acute oral toxicity assays, with LD₅₀ values exceeding 5 g/kg. At a concentration of 10 mg/mL, both extracts exhibited pronounced ovicidal activity against Ascaris eggs, achieving mortality rates of 97.73 % and 100 %, respectively. These findings indicate that the aerial parts of both species possess substantial anthelmintic potential, likely attributable to the bioactive secondary metabolites detected through phytochemical screening.