IN VITRO ANTHELMINTIC EFFECT OF <i>ANOGEISSUS LEIOCARPUS</i> (DC.) GUILL. & PERR. LEAF EXTRACTS AND FRACTIONS ON DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES OF <i>HAEMONCHUS CONTORTUS</i>

Abstract

The anthelmintic effect of acetone leaf extract and fractions of Anogeissus leiocarpus was investigated to determine the relative efficacy of the components as anthelmintic against Haemonchus contortus (Rudolphi). The fractions were obtained by solvent-solvent group separation of the leaf extract. The fractions were evaluated for ovicidal and larvicidal activity by egg hatch inhibition assay and larval development viability assay. Best-fit LC₅₀  values for egg hatch test were 0.360, 0.316, 0.093, 0.219 and 0.196 mg/ml for the crude acetone extract, hexane, chloroform, butanol, and 35% water in methanol fractions, respectively. While the best-fit LC₅₀ values for larval development and viability test were 0.509, 0.162, 0.186, 0.288 and 0.130 mg/ml for the crude acetone extract, hexane, chloroform, butanol, and 35% water in methanol fractions, respectively. The 35% water in methanol fractions was the more active on larvae, although differences in activity between fractions were not significant (p>0.05). A. leiocarpus  leaf extracts could find application in anthelmintic therapy in veterinary practice.

Keywords: Anogeissus leiocarpus; anthelmintic; Haemonchus contortus; eggs; larvae

Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med. (2011) 8(2):134-139