Studies on medicinal plants against gastroinstestinal nematodes of goats

Abstract

A detailed investigation was performed with the aim to find out the indigenous medicinal plants having anthelminthic action. Ten (10) indigenous medicinal plants were primarily selected and the ethanol extracts were prepared for anthelminthic trial and determination of anthelminthic properties in vitro and in vivo against the gastro-instestinal nematodes in goat during the period from July 2006 to December 2006. Screening of ethanol extracts of selected plants showed the anthelmintic activity against gastrointestinal nematodes at lower concentration (50 mg/ml). In vivo screening (by oral administration) of four plant extracts (ethanol) showed variable degree of efficacy in experimentally infected goats, as measured by faecal egg count reduction test. A relatively higher efficacy was recorded in ethanol extract of neem treated animals in comparison to other plants extracts. Ethanol extracts of korolla also showed significant efficacy. The results obtained in this study showed that ethanol extract of Labanga, Neem, Karolla and Pineapple at the dose of 100mg/kg showed a significant and potent antinematodal effect. These findings indicate that the adult gastrointestinal nematodes are more vulnerable to selected indigenous plants. Within these ten (10) plants 4 showed more than 70% efficacy at a concentration of 100mg/mkg. Key words: Medicinal plants, anthelmintics, nematodes, fecal egg count, goat INTRODUCTIONA larger number of plants are naturally available in the indo-Pak-Bangladesh subcontinent, which possess narrow or broad spectrum anthelmintic activities. For both developed and less developed countries, recognition and development of herbal medicine offer treatment methods that are more environmentally benign, since they tend to be less toxic, produce fewer unanticipated side effects and apparently do not trigger anthelmintic chemoresistance. The phytochemical analyses of naturally available plants and control anthelmintic trials along with contemporary knowledge of parasite control strategies may offer new opportunities for effective and economical control of parasitic diseases. But, there are problems connected with the use of herbal medicine, the largest being the lack of scientific evaluation. The most effective approach to obtain such evaluation is the ethnobotanical approach, which assumes that indigenous uses of plant indicate the presence of biologically active compounds in the plants. Ethnoveterinary research, development and extension also play an important role in this context. The present study is a part of these research, development and extension that may help to evaluate effective, available and low cost anthelmintics of plant origin.Livestock is an important prospective sector which may contribute to solve problems of marginal farmers. Livestock is also capable of helping poverty alleviation. It plays an important role to promote human health by supplying animal protein of high caloric value in the form of meat and milk. It is also important in earning substantial amount of foreign exch...

Evaluation of the Activity of Plant Extracts in Boer Goats

“…Further, concern over dosage levels and associated margins of safety have been reported especially in the use of nicotine sulfate for control of parasites [39] . Studies of the anthelmintic efficacy of parts of the Neem tree [3,6,10,30] and extracts [10,17,26,33] have been reported with varying results. In goats the ethanol extract of Neem, at the dose of 100 mg kg −1 showed a 100% killing of parasites in vitro [33] .…”

“…The Neem tree, A. indica, is known for its medicinal properties and has been recommended for use against gastro-intestinal nematodes [3,32] and ecto-parasites [1,14,15] . Studies of the anthelmintic efficacy of parts of the Neem tree [6,7,10,13,30] and extracts [17,26,33] have been reported with varying results [2] . A. absinthium commonly called Wormwood has been used for medicinal purposes in folk medicine [36] .…”

Indigenous Knowledge on Animal Health Care Practices in Kendrapara District of Odisha, India

“…communities of Andhra Pradesh [52]; Brassica campestris seed oil is administered orally to calves suffering from indigestion and weakness [53]; Albizia lebbeck fruits are fed to the animals to increase milk production by the local people of Dang district of south Gujarat [54]; Bombax ceiba leaves and flowers is used in stomach disorders [55]; Withania somnifera root decoction is drenched once daily to buffaloes to treat cold and cough by the people of Tosham block of district Bhiwani (Haryana),India [56]; rhizomes of Zingiber officinale is used to cure poisoning by traditional herbal healers (Pashu Vaidyas) in various remote valleys of the Alaknanda catchment of Uttarakhand [39]; paste of the entire plant of Ocimum sanctum is used to treat snakebites in Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu [57].Similarly, some of the plants documented in this survey such as Ananas comosus, Cannabis sativa, Carica papaya, Brassica Campestris and Zingiber officinale are already covered in ethnoveterinay surveys of Bangladesh [58], Uganda [19], Pakisthan [59], Canada [4] and Brazil [9]. The uses of these plants provide credibility of folk claims and clues for pharmacological screening.…”

Assessment of herbal anthelmintics used by the farmers in Kirinyaga county, Kenya, for the treatment of helminthiosis in cattle

“…Some plants found in the traditional settings of Kenya have been used to treat a number of animal and human diseases (Wanyama, 2000;Kareru et al, 2007). Herbal medicines do offer treatment methods that are environmentally friendly and hence they are not toxic to the environment and they do not trigger anthelmintic chemoresistance (Sujon et al, 2008). The phytochemical analyses of naturally available plants and control anthelmintic trials along with contemporary knowledge of parasite control strategies may offer new opportunities for effective and economical control of parasitic diseases.…”

“…It plays an important role to promote human health by supplying animal protein of high caloric value in the form of meat and milk (Sujon et al, 2008). It is also important in earning substantial amount of foreign exchange by exporting leather, leather products and other products made from bones, horns and teeth per year (Alam, 1993).…”