Anthelmintic effect of Stachytarpheta schottiana in Caenorhabditis elegans

Abstract

Helminthiasis is considered a serious illness in tropical countries. The study of activity of natural products has proven to be an excellent alternative to parasite control. This work evaluated the anthelmintic activity of the crude extract of Stachytarpheta schottiana on viability, movements, reproduction behaviors and morphology of different stages of Caenorhabditis elegans. The extract did not decrease L1 hatching, and the survival of L1-L2 and adults in all tested concentrations. And it did not alter the movements of C. elegans adults and the egg-laying activity and brood size. Chemotaxis behavioral assays showed that C. elegans was not attracted or repelled by the extract. The morphological analysis of different forms showed several alterations as cuticular damages that promoted the detachment from the nematode body. The eggs were degraded or not present in adult bodies treated. The results obtained with the crude extract suggest that several secondary metabolites isolated from S. schottiana have an anthelmintic effect and for this confirmation, future analyses will be necessary.