Determination of phytochemicals and anthelmintic activity of Rytigynia kigeziensis Verdc extracts using Eudrilus eugeniae model

Abstract

Helminthic infections are among the global public health problems. Due to high cost of standard drugs and resistance, rural dwellers use herbal preparations. However, efficacy and mechanisms of action remains elusive. In Uganda, Rytigynia kigeziensis is one of the commonly used anthelmintic herbs. The current study sought to determine the effect of phytochemicals in R. kigeziensis from the stem bark against E. eugeniae model for application as anthelmintic. The anthelmintic activity was carried out by time of paralysis and time of death at various at concentrations (15, 25, 50 and 100 mg/ml). Further LDH activity was examined to shade light on the possible mechanism of inhibition. All the results obtained were expressed as mean values ± SEM (n=3). The significance of difference between the means of albendazole and extracts concentrations were determined using One-way ANOVA on PAST version 3.15 and regarded significant at P ≤ 0.05. The phytochemicals extracted were in the order ethanol> methanol> aqueous> ethyl acetate> chloroform whereby alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, glycosides, steroids, anthraquionones and tannins were present in all the extracts. Phlobatannins were absent in all extracts while terpenoids were absent in ethyl acetate, reducing sugars and phenols were also not observed in chloroform extracts. The anthelminthic activity was dose dependent in all extracts in the order ethanol>methanol>ethyl-acetate>aqueous>chloroform extracts. The LDH activity was dose dependent and statistically significant. The results were statistically significant when compared against albendazole. The findings suggest synergistic effect R. kigeziensis stem bark extracts, and the plant may serve as a potential anthelminthic agent.