In vitro antifilarial activity of extracts of the medicinal plant Cardiospermum halicacabum against Brugia pahangi

Abstract

The in vitro effects of ethanol and aqueous extracts of the medicinal plant Cardiospermum halicacabum on adult worms and microfilariae of Brugia pahangi were investigated. With or without the plant extracts in culture medium, the motility of adult worms, microfilariae and microfilarial release from female worms were monitored daily. After 7 days of culture, viability or tissue damage of adult worms was assessed using the MTT assay. At > 500 μg ml-1, the aqueous extract significantly reduced motility of adult females after 24 h of exposure and adult males after 3 days. The aqueous extract, at > 500 μg ml-1, also significantly reduced microfilarial release from female worms, starting on day 2. The reduction in the motility of adult worms and the pattern of microfilarial release from female worms were concentration and time dependent. The MTT assay results revealed that adult worms cultured in the presence of aqueous extracts at > 500 μg ml-1 were damaged. However, the aqueous extract did not affect the motility of microfilariae with the exception of those in higher concentration extracts. Higher concentrations of ethanol extracts (2 mg ml-1) inhibited both the motility of adult worms and the release of microfilariae from females. Little effect of ethanol extracts was detected by the MTT assay, as only slight damage was caused to worms exposed only to the highest concentration (2 mg ml-1). However, ethanol extract at 500 μg ml-1 rapidly reduced the motility of microfilariae on day 2. The present study revealed that an aqueous extract of C. halicacabum has mild but definite direct macrofilaricidal action on B. pahangi.

Acetaminophen-induced nephrotoxicity in rats: Protective role ofCardiospermum halicacabum

“…In addition, pharmacological evaluation of Cardiospermum halicacabum extracts showed that the plant possesses antimalarial (Waako et al, 2005), antifilarial (Khunkitti et al, 2000), antiparasitic (Boonmars et al, 2005), antipyretic (Asha & Pushpangadan, 1999), anti-inflammatory (Sadique et al, 1987), and antianxiety (Malaviya et al, 2009) activities. Also, the plant's antiulcer activity (Sheeba & Asha, 2006), and antihyperglycemic activity against streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats as well as its antidiarrheal potentials in mice (Rao et al, 2006) are well documented in literature.…”

In VitroAnthelmintic Effects of Medicinal Plants Used in Czech Republic

“…Among various kinds of in vitro methods, the egg hatch assays (Coles et al, 1992;Ketzis et al, 2002;Pessoa et al, 2002;Alawa et al, 2003;Hounzangbe-Adote et al, 2005) and the larval motility tests (Rabel et al, 1994;Lorimer et al, 1996;Khunkitti et al, 2000;HounzangbeAdote et al, 2005) are commonly used to test medicinal plants against nematodes.…”

Review of beneficial and remedial aspects of Cardiospermum halicacabum L.

“…Different experiments showed that mature worms were injured when they were cultivated in the aqueous extracts of the plant but did not affect movement except in high concentration while ethanolic extracts in higher concentration damage both the motion of mature worms and the discharge of micro filariae from females. Though, ethanolic extract quickly decreased the movement of micro filariae while aqueous extract has gentle but proper straight macro filaricidal action on B. pahangi (Khunkitti et al, 2000).…”