Efficacy of aqueous extracts ofGenipa americanaL. (Rubiaceae) in inhibiting larval development and eclosion of gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep

Abstract

The anthelminthic efficacy in vitro of the aqueous extract of Genipa americana L. leaves was evaluated at final concentrations of 20, 30, 50, 75 and 100 mg (dry matter)/mL through egg hatching inhibition (EHI) tests and quantitative cultures. The observed lethal concentration LC 90 values for hatching and L3 development inhibition were 79.8 and 28.7 mg/mL, respectively. The extract was more effective in larval development inhibition (LDI) than in hatching inhibition. Phytochemical analysis revealed tannins and flavonoids in the extract. The utilisation of G. americana as an anthelminthic may represent a viable alternative to synthetic products, although further studies are needed to verify its in vivo efficacy and to assess its toxicity in sheep.

Isolation and Identification of the Five Novel Flavonoids from Genipa americana Leaves

“…Only our study identified flavonoids in leaves [ 24 ]. Furthermore, only one article described the presence of leucoanthocyanidins, catechins, and flavanones in the fruits of G. americana by HPLC analysis [ 28 ], and another study described its presence in fruits by colorimetric methods [ 13 ], demonstrating that the presence of flavonoids in leaf extract was not described previously.…”

“…In the study, a simple and effective procedure allowed the isolation of flavonoids from the leaves of G. americana . Previously only two papers described the detection of flavonoids in fruits [ 13 , 28 ] and one study published by our group identified these compounds in leaves [ 24 ] from G. americana . It is important to mention that this is a new phytochemical approach concerning the leaves of this species.…”

“…Most of the phytochemical and pharmacological studies reported to G. americana were conducted with its fruits [ 4 ]. Regarding pharmacological studies especially with its leaves there are reports about anti-inflammatory [ 11 ], antiangiogenic [ 12 ], antidiarrheal, and anti-syphilis activity [ 9 ], inhibition of larval development and eclosion of sheep gastrointestinal nematodes [ 13 ], antidiabetic [ 14 ], and anticonvulsant effects [ 15 ].…”

“…Concerning the phytochemical composition, it has been reported to G. americana leaves the presence of secondary metabolites such as tannins [ 13 ], monoterpenes [ 16 ], and flavonoids [ 17 ], being iridoids the main secondary metabolites described until this moment [ 4 , 16 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ]. Mainly for the leaves, the presence of following iridoids was already described: geniposidic acid [ 22 ], genipatriol [ 23 ], genamesides A–D [ 19 ], and our group recently isolated and identified the iridoids 1-hydroxy-7-(hydroxymethyl)-1,4a H ,5 H ,7a H -cyclopenta[ c ]pyran-4-carbaldehyde, and 7-(hydroxymethyl)-1-methoxy-1 H ,4a H ,5 H ,7a H -cyclopenta[ c ]pyran-4-carbaldehyde [ 24 ].…”

Medium-term conservation and regrowth of the tropical multipurpose species Genipa americana

“…Fruits are used to prepare beverages (Yee et al, 2010). Recently studies reported the utilization of G. americana as an anthelminthic in sheep (Nogueira et al, 2014).…”