Anthelmintic efficacy of pumpkin seed (Cucurbita pepo Linnaeus, 1753) on ostrich gastrointestinal nematodes in a semiarid region of Paraíba State, Brazil

Abstract

The aim of this study was to verify the in vivo effectiveness of pumpkin seed (Curcubita pepo Linnaeus, 1753) in naturally infected ostriches in the Cariri zone, semiarid region of Paraíba State, Brazil. Forty-eight ostriches were used, African Black breed, of 14 to 36 months old, naturally infected by gastrointestinal nematodes. These animals were divided into four groups of 12 ostriches. Group 1 consists of animals treated with 0.5 g/kg live weight (l. w.) of pumpkin seed meal; group 2 received 1 g/kg l. w. of pumpkin seed meal; group 3 was treated with Albendazole 5 %, at the dosage of 1 mL/10 kg l. w.; and Group 4 was the control group and do not received treatment. Groups 1 and 2 received the treatment for three consecutive days, orally, at intervals of 7 days, totaling nine administrations. The Albendazole 5 % was administered one time, at the beginning of the experiment, according to the manufacturer's recommendations. The groups treated with pumpkin seed showed a significant decrease in egg counts per gram of feces (EPG), wherein group 2 (1 g/kg l. w.) was the most effective. The control and drug groups showed no reduction in EPG. The results of the present study demonstrate that the administration of pumpkin seed was effective in controlling gastrointestinal helminths in naturally infected ostriches.

Evaluation of the in vivo efficacy of pumpkin (<i>Cucurbita pepo</i>) seeds against gastrointestinal helminths of chickens

“…Raw pumpkin seeds were coarsely ground (2-4 mm) every treatment day and fed (2 g seeds/bird per day) first before offering commercial corn mash (UNIFEEDS® Chicken Layer Mash; crude protein 17% min., metabolizable energy NLT). The dosage of 2 g pumpkin seeds/bird per day follows the results of Feitosa et al (6), where the dosage of 1g/kg BW was most effective in controlling ostrich nematodes.…”

“…Over the last decade, a rising number of problems with modern veterinary drugs, such as development of modern veterinary drug resistance, meat and environmental residues, and the growing demand for alternative sources of anthelmintics, have been addressed by increased efforts at evaluating medicinal plants such as garlic, ginger, and papaya for their anthelmintic potential as they may be utilized for sustainable control of helminth infections with low environmental impact and low toxicity to both animals and man (2,5,6). Among the plants studied as possible anthelmintics are representatives of the family Cucurbitaceae, which, in traditional medicine, are administered as antiparasitic agents.…”

“…Among the plants studied as possible anthelmintics are representatives of the family Cucurbitaceae, which, in traditional medicine, are administered as antiparasitic agents. Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata, or C. maxima, or C. pepo) stands out as it is used worldwide as a natural vermifuge, and its seeds are known to have anthelmintic properties when used in humans and animals (6,7). In the ethnoveterinary medicine literature, pumpkin seeds have been reported to be extensively used in traditional medicine for their midlevel anthelmintic activity in both humans and livestock, owing to the secondary metabolite cucurbitin (8).…”

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“…The three plant extracts (Balanites aegyptiaca, Tamarindies indica and Celtis toka) was observed to inhibit larval development by 100% which was similar to ivermectin Assefa et al [35]. [37] used of pumpkin seed for its anthelmintic properties in ostriches. In the study the pumpkin seeds fed at 1g/kg body weight gave a 90% reduction in faecal egg count.…”

Potencial antihelmíntico de sementes de abóbora (Cucurbita mochata) em equinos

“…Grzybek et al (2016) comprovaram a ação do extrato alcóolico de sementes de abóbora sobre nematoides de ratos, devido à presença de cucurbitacina, ácidos graxos e os alcalóides berberina e palmitina. Brandão et al (2008) ao estudarem a sensibilidade anti-helmíntica in vivo de Cucurbita pepo L. sobre avestruzes naturalmente infectados, constataram que houve redução dos níveis de helmintos quando empregado por um período mínimo de trinta dias, enquanto que Feitosa et al (2013) verificaram que a semente de abóbora foi efetiva no controle de nematoides de avestruz na dose de 1g/kg. Além disso, Fujimoto, Costa e Ramos (2012) concluíram que o método de controle usando sementes de abóbora foi eficaz contra nematoides no estômago e intestino de peixes lambaris.…”