Abstract
BackgroundHaemonchosis affects sheep husbandry and its treatment is often compromised due to the development of anthelminthic resistance. Plant-derived bioactive compounds have been studied as alternative to control Haemonchus contortus. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of Senecio brasiliensis extracts on H. contortus egg hatching and infective larvae migration.ResultsThe aqueous extract from dried and fresh plant and alkaloid-enriched fraction of the previously dried leaves of S. brasiliensis inhibited H. contortus egg hatching. The main plant compound in alkaloid fraction was integerrimine, a pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA). However, the aqueous extract from dried plant displayed higher efficacy when compared to their alkaloid enriched or non-polar fractions, meaning that, although PAs contributed to the ovicidal effect, other compounds in the plant can also contribute to their effect. Furthermore, the aqueous extract from dried plant also had higher efficacy than aqueous extract from fresh plant in larvae migration inhibition. Finally, extract from dried plant presented low in vitro cytotoxic effect.ConclusionTaken together our results suggest a good anthelmintic effect of S. brasiliensis, especially when aqueous extract is prepared from dried plant. Further in vivo studies should be performed focused on forms of administration of this extract in rearing sheep.
Highlights
Haemonchosis affects sheep husbandry and its treatment is often compromised due to the development of anthelminthic resistance
Based on reports of the pharmacological effects of the genus Senecio and the species S. brasiliensis, we aimed to evaluate the effect of aqueous extract of this plant and its non-polar and alkaloid fractions on H. contortus egg hatching and infective larvae migration, besides evaluating the cytotoxic effect of this plant
The GC-MS analysis showed the presence of four constituents for the alkaloid fraction (AF) from dried plant (DP) and eight constituents for AF from fresh plant (FP) (Table 1)
Summary
Haemonchosis affects sheep husbandry and its treatment is often compromised due to the development of anthelminthic resistance. Haemonchus contortus [2] (barber’s pole worm), a blood-sucking nematode and member of the order Strongylida and family Trichostrongylidae, can cause anemia, anorexia, diarrhea, gastritis, and even death in animals [3]. This parasitic infection results in direct economic losses related to decreased animal performance and/or death as well as indirect economic losses linked to the high cost of anthelmintic drugs and the labor and equipment required for the control of parasitosis [4, 5]. Plants belonging to this genus are known for the production of compounds such as alkaloids, sesquiterpenes, and flavonoids [11] and for their anti-inflammatory, vasodilator, antiemetic, antimicrobial, and parasiticide activities [12,13,14]
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