In-vitro studies were conducted to determine the anthelmintic activity of ethanolic and water extracts of Vernonia amygdalina and Secamone africana used by agro-pastoralists in semi-arid land Uganda. The plant materials were collected from Nakasongola district and extracted using 70% ethanol and water. Efficacy and potency of crude extracts was determined using extracts' serial dilutions ranging 4mg/ml to 64mg/ml parallel to serial dilutions of albendazole ranging: 6.25-100mg/ml in three replicates. Ascaris suum model was used for the assays. Standard phytochemical methods were used for qualitative phytochemical analysis. The plants' extracts caused a dose-dependent motility inhibition with highest concentration of both ethanolic and water extracts of V.amygdalina causing 90% inhibition compared with 100% inhibition caused by albendazole. The corresponding median effective doses of ethanolic, water and albendazole were 5.94mg/ml, 13.70mg/ml and 15.12mg/ml respectively and significantly differed (F (2, 53) =257.43, p=0.001). There was a significant difference in motility inhibition in all dose levels (F (5, 53) = 14.01, P = 0.001; R 2 = 0.93). Similarly, the water and ethanolic extracts of S.africana caused a 93.3% and 80% motility inhibition with median effective doses of 40.08mg/ml and 25.41mg/ml respectively which also significantly differed (F (2, 53) =183.26, p= 0.001). There was also a highly significant difference in motility inhibition in all dose levels (F (5, 53) = 8.00, P = 0.001; R 2 = 0.92). The phytochemical screening revealed presence of tannins, alkaloid, saponins, flavonoids, steroids glycosides, triterpenes, coumarin derivatives, anthocyanocides, anthracenocides, and reducing sugars. In conclusion, V.amygdalina and S.africana are potential sources for novel antihelmintics and the secondary metabolites present justify their ethno-veterinary use.

This study was carried out to determine acute oral toxicity and histopathological effects associated with consumption of Euphorbia heterophylla ethanolic extract using 9 to 10 weeks old Albino mice randomized in six groups. The five groups were orally administered with single graded doses of plant extract at 1500, 2000, 2500, 3500 and 4000 mg/kg body weight while the sixth group was administered 1 ml of physiological saline and the animals were observed for toxicity signs and death. Viscera organs were obtained after cervical dislocation for histopathological assessment. The graded extracts induced dose-dependent toxicity signs with major clinical manifestation prior to death including: polyurea, circling, paralysis, thirst, loss of appetite and gait, tachypnea, dehydration and stupor. The major dosedependent histopathological lesions included: Hemorrhages, congestion, peri-vascular degeneration and necrosis in viscera organs in the groups that received 2000 to 4000 mg/kg body weight. The 24 h median lethal dose was 2831 mg/kg body weight and the 95% confidence interval of median lethal dose was 2490 to 3218 mg/kg body weight and R 2 is 0.96 indicating E. heterophylla is of low toxicity. The study demonstrated the toxicity potential associated with uncontrolled use of this plant by the communities. Toxicological studies of sub chronic and chronic toxicity, as well as in vitro mutagenicity and genotoxicity need to be conducted considering the well claimed prolonged use of the plant extract to assess the effect prolonged use on animals.