&lt;i&gt;Curtisia dentata&lt;/i&gt; (Cornaceae) leaf extracts and isolated compounds inhibit motility of parasitic and free-living nematodes

V Bagla,L.J Mcgaw,J.N Eloff,E.S Bizimenyera,L.J Shai

doi:10.4102/ojvr.v76i2.49

Abstract

Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus colubriformis are among the most important parasitic nematodes of small ruminants. Caenorhabditis elegans, a free-living nematode, is used as a model for evaluating anthelmintic activity of a variety of test substances. Extracts of several medicinal plants are useful in vitro and in vivo against nematode development. Extracts of Curtisia dentata, a South African medicinal plant, and compounds isolated from leaves of this plant were investigated for anthelmintic activity against T. colubriformis, H. contortus and C. elegans. The acetone and dichloromethane extracts were active against all nematodes at concentrations as low as 160 microg/ml. Betulinic acid and lupeol were active against the parasitic nematodes only at the high concentrations of 1000 and 200 microg/ml, respectively. All compounds were effective against C. elegans with active concentrations as low as 8 microg/ml. Betulinic acid was less active than lupeol and ursolic acid against C. elegans. The acetone and dichloromethane extracts were also active against C. elegans with a concentration of 0.31 mg/ml resulting in almost 80% inhibition of larval motility. The use of free-living nematodes may provide information on the activity of potential anthelmintics against parasitic nematodes. Extracts of various medicinal plant species may provide solutions to ill-health of small ruminants caused by parasitic nematodes in poor communities of southern Africa.

Highlights

Helminthosis, caused by parasitic gastrointestinal nematodes, remains a major constraint to livestockPhytomedicine Programme, Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110 South AfricaDepartment of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Limpopo, P.O
We investigated anthelmintic activity in C. dentata extracts and compounds isolated from the leaves of the plant to discover potential correlations with known antifungal activity
This study was aimed at investigating whether the extracts of the leaves of C. dentata and compounds from it, which have shown antifungal activity (Shai 2007), have anthelmintic activity

Summary

Introduction

Helminthosis, caused by parasitic gastrointestinal nematodes, remains a major constraint to livestock. Accepted for publication 13 October 2008—Editor production across the tropical and subtropical regions, with Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus colubriformis listed among the top ten most important parasites of ruminants (Perry & Randolph 1999; Chiejina 2001; Hounzangbe-Adote, Paolini, Fouraste, Moutairou & Hoste 2005). Trichostrongylus colubriformis causes parasitic enteritis that predisposes ruminants to diarrhoea, weakness and death. This parasite is frequently found infecting cattle and sheep in South Africa, causing loss in production (Horak 2003; Horak, Evans & Purnell 2004). Haemonchus contortus causes anaemia, haemorrhagic gastroenteritis, hypoproteinaemia partly manifested as submandibular oedema or ‘bottle jaw’ and sudden death, or chronic emaciation. In southern Benin, the prevalence of H. contortus was estimated at 92.5 % in goats and sheep (Salifou 1996)

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