Anthelmintic efficacy of Clerodendrum viscosum on fowl tapeworm Raillietina tetragona

Abstract

Context:Clerodendrum viscosum Vent. (Verbenaceae) is a shrub, widely used amongst the natives of India against various diseases.Objective: Crude extract of the plant was tested in vitro on a tapeworm Raillietina tetragona Molin (Davaineidae) to evaluate its potential anthelmintic efficacy and ultrastructural changes in the parasite.Materials and methods: Parasites were exposed to different concentrations of ethanolic leaf extract (10–80 mg/mL) and praziquantel (0.0005–0.005 mg/mL) and incubated in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). The pH was 7.4 at 37 °C, while one set of worms was incubated only with PBS as a control. Permanent immobilization of worms was determined visually when no motility occurred on physically disturbing them. The parasites exposed to high concentrations of leaf extract and praziquantel treatments were processed for histological and electron microscopic studies, as these concentrations took the least time for paralysis and death to occur.Result: With an increase in the concentration of the leaf extract from 10 to 80 mg/mL and praziquantel from 0.0005 to 0.005 mg/mL, the time for the onset of paralysis and death was shortened. The treated parasites lost their spontaneous movement rapidly followed by death. Electron microscopic observations revealed disruptions in the tegument and parenchymal layer, accompanied by deformities in cell organelles.Discussion and conclusion: Extensive structural alterations in the tegument indicate that the plant-derived components cause permeability changes in the parasite leading to paralysis and subsequent death. These observations suggest that phytochemicals present in C. viscosum have vermifugal or vermicidal activity, and thus may be exploited as alternative chemotherapeutic agents.

In vitro anthelmintic efficacy of Ferulic and Sinapic acid against zoonotic cestode Hymenolepis diminuta (Rudolphi, 1819)

“…Similar observation was also reported from our laboratory on H. diminuta treated with gallic acid and catechin (Mondal et al 2023). In the current study, loss of tegumental architecture with infoldings and cracks were seen in both FA and SA treated worms which was also reported by Nandi et al (2017) in the tegument of R. tetragona when treated with crude leaf extract of Clerodendrum viscosum. The tegument of cestode is an interface where fundamental physiological processes including absorption, uptake of nutrition, excretion, ion exchange, defense against host′s enzyme and immune responses along with perception of the surrounding host's microenvironment occurs (Öhman-James 1973).…”

Ethnobotanical uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological activities of Clerodendrum infortunatum L. (Lamiaceae): A review

“…Activity observed was marked against Ascardia galli (recovered from fowls) when compared to P. posthuma. Recently, Nandi et al122 revealed anthelmintic potential of ethanolic extract of leaves against fowl tapeworm Raillietina tetragona in terms of paralysis and death of worms. Electron microscopic observations showed disruptions in the tegument and parenchymal layer, accompanied by deformities in cell organelles indicating anthelmintic efficacy of leaf extract.…”