Журнал бактериологии и паразитологии

Абстрактный

Antihelminthic properties of some Nigerian medicinal plants against some intestinal worms in children (age 5-13 years) in Ogurugu, South-East Nigeria

Cletus Anes Ukwubile

Helminthic activity in children in rural Nigeria has caused many deficiencies in children from social to general well being. The objective of this study is to investigate the anthelmintic activity of Allium sativum, Zingiber officinale, Cucurbita mexicana, Annona senegalensis, Ficus religiosa, Artemisia brevifolia, Calotropis procera, Pycnanthus angolensis, Nicotiana tabacum and Vernonia amygdalina on the following worms: Ascaris lumbricoides, Strongyloides stercularis, Giardia intestinalis, Ancylostoma duodenale, Entamoeba histolystica, Enterobis vermicularis, Taenia saginata, Trichinella spp., Necator americanus and Diphyllobothrium latum. Aqueous (water) and ethanol extracts of leaves, bark, stems and roots of the plants at concentrations of 20, 25, 50 and 100 mg/ml were used to test the activity of the plants on worms while piperazine citrate was used as a control. The paralysis time and death were determined for 4 hours in a Petri dish while the free movements of the worms before and after administration of the extracts were recorded on a slow moving drum kymograph using the organ bath method. The paralysis time and death time were significantly reduced at all concentrations as compared to the solvent treated group (P ≤ 0.05). The study showed that the extracts exhibited anthelmintic activity against intestinal worms and can be used as an oral medicine for infestation of these worms in children.