In vitro Anthelmintic Activity of Ethanolic Extracts of Camellia sinensis L. and Albizia lebbeck L. against Haemonchus contortus

Saira Zaheer1, Abrar Hussain1*, Aqsa Khalil1, Muhammad Mansha1, Muhammad Lateef2

1Division of Science and Technology, University of Education, Lahore, Pakistan.

2University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan.

Abstract | Helminths are familiar as a major problem to livestock production. Helminths cause multiple infections in animals of significant economic importance. Haemonchus contortus, (helminths worm), is highly infectious parasite of small ruminants, and is a major cause of diseases and significant mortality in various cattle, sheep, deer, buffalo and goat, etc. Various synthetic anthelmintics have been used, on wide scale, to control the helminths infections.But the parasite worms have developed multiple resistances against the synthetic anthelmintics. Hence, various biological controls, vaccines and local medicinal plants are being explored to control the parasitic worms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anthelmintic potential of two local plants, Albizia lebbeck L. and Camellia sinensis L against H. contortus using Adult Motility Assay (AMA). Crude Ethanolic Extracts (CEE)of dried leaves of A. lebbeck L. and whole plant of C. sinensis L. were prepared by cold maceration method. The anthelmintic activity was analyzed by adult motility assay (AMA). Levamisole was used as positive control to compare the efficacy of CEE of both plants. Adult worms were treated with different concentrations i.e., 2, 4, 6 and 8 mg/ml of ethanolic extract and motility of the worms was examined after every two to eight hours. Both A. lebbeck and C. sinensis exhibited 88% and 95% mortality at 6 & 8 mg/ml after 8 hrs of treatment. In conclusion, the ethanolic extracts of A. lebbeck L. and C. sinensis L. showed in vitro anthelmintic activity against H. contortus at concentrations tested.

Article History

Received: November 11, 2018

Revised: February 01, 2019

Accepted: February 05, 2019

Published: March 01, 2019

Authors’ Contributions

SZ performed experimental work. AH designed and supervised the research. AQ reviewed the literature. MM complied the data and helped in manuscript writing. ML provided lab facilities and assisted in the experimental work.

Keywords

Camellia sinensis, Albizia lebbeck, levamisole, Haemonchus contortus, Anthelmintic activity, Adult Motility Assay.

Corresponding author: Abrar Hussain

ranaabrar299@gmail.com

To cite this article: Zaheer, S., Hussain, A., Khalil, A., Mansha M. and Lateef, M., 2019. In vitro anthelmintic activity of ethanolic extracts of Camellia sinensis L. and Albizia lebbeck L. against Haemonchus contortus. Punjab Univ. J. Zool., 34(1):41-45. http://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.pujz/2019.34.1.41.45

Introduction

Livestock is an important pillar of Pakistan’s economy. It increases commercial status of the rural poor. It is a main source of farming and supplement economy by generating job opportunities and enhancing house hold income in villages. Buffalos, goats and cows are being raised for variety of items such as meat, leather and milk production (Hassan et al., 2011). Helminths are notorious for causing infections in cows, goats, buffalos and human beings.

These infections cause serious diseases in livestock and hence lead to affect the economy of the country (Chaturvedi et al., 2009). It is worked out previously that the sheep and goat industry of Faisalabad (Pakistan) has undergone a severe loss of Rs. 31.43 million in a year (Iqbal et al., 2014).

It is reported that most of the intestinal infections are caused by nematodes of phylum Helminths (round worms) which are transmitted through soil to the animals (Sherwani et al., 2013). Hemonchocosis is the most deleterious disease of small ruminants caused by H.contortus and H. placei in Pakistan. But H. contortus is predominantly the most infectious and key parasite of intestine of goats and sheep (Maqsood et al., 1996; Singh et al., 1997; Asif et al., 2008).These endoparasites feed on host blood and cause anemia, low productivity and may lead to death in heavy infections (Vatta et al., 2001; Githigia et al., 2001). Substantial financial losses occur due to these infections in livestock which is source of milk, meat, hides and wool all over the world (Nodtvedt et al., 2002). The pathology of this parasite includes lowered (PCV) packed cell volume, hemoglobin level, blood cells like lymphocytes and erythrocytes etc. (Gibb et al., 2005). Presently nematode worms have become resistant to the available anthelmintic drugs and consequently the rural community related with livestock is suffering from problems (Mortensen et al., 2003; Saddiqe et al, 2013).

In Pakistan, helminth infections has caused a fiscal loss of Rs. 8800.09 million in 2011. Further, about 29% decrease in milk production has happened due to haemonchosis, which causes a loss of Rs.134062.39 million per year. It is further assessed that 27 % decrease in animal weight has occurred due to livestock infections which ultimately results in substantial loss of Rs. 40 million (Qamar, 2011).

Synthetic anthelmintics have been used for several years all over the globe to control and restrict the nematode infections. Nevertheless, the risk of resistance, less availability and high cost of anthelmintics for developing countries like Pakistan have necessitated to develop other alternatives for control of infections (Waller, 1997). Various biological interventions and medicinal plants are being explored to control the livestock infections (Githiori, 2004).

The local medicinal plants have been used on wide scale in veterinary and human medicines. The leaves of Albezia lebbeck has been used as treatment against gastrointestinal infections in villages for centuries. Similarly, syrup of tea powder has been used against stomach disturbances in buffaloes, goats and sheep.Therefore, to replace the synthetic anthelmintics, the scientists are trying hard to discover new plants for anthelmintic source (Patel et al., 2010). A variety of plant based anthelmintic extracts/formulations are now available in Pakistan to treat helminths (Akhtar et al., 2000; Iqbal et al., 2014).

C. sinensis L. is native plant of Indo-Pakistan known as green tea. It belongs to family Theaceae with many other species of economic importance.Its cultivation is prevalent in more than 30 countries and it isconsumed as beverage on a large scale (Katiyar and Mukhtar, 1996). Camellia possesses about 700 chemicals, most of them are associated with human health such as vitamins (C,E and K) and caffeine polysaccharides (Dwivedi et al., 2010). It has high content of polyphenols which cure many diseases like osteoporosis and liver disease. The extracts of C.sinensis are used as therapeutic agents against bacterial and viral infections (Mukhtar and Ahmad, 2000). It is further reported that the extract of green tea has anthelmintic effect against parasite infections (Sherwani et al., 2013).

Albizia lebbeck L. is known as Shirin and is popularly used as fodder for cattle in Pakistan. It is used for treating flu, lung problems, abdominal tumor, cough and inflammation. It has also anthelmintic activity against parasitic worms.It is used against nematode worms which live in intestine of sheep (Khan et al., 2010).

The present study was carried out to evaluate the anthelmintic potential of A.lebbeck L. and C.sinensis L. against H.contortus affecting the livestock on large scale. The study will help in developing easily available anthelmintic drugs with minor side effects to support the livestock industry.

 

Materials and Methods

Plant material

Leaves of A.lebbeck L. were collected from the primary author’s university and the whole plant of C.sinensis L. was purchased from market (Lahore, Pakistan). The leaf architecture along with other recognition techniques were used to identify the both plants (Hongfei et al., 2012).Moreover, the identified plants were verified by the Herbarium Incharge, Department of Botany, PU Lahore, Pakistan. C.sinensis is abundantly available in the market as dried powder which was purchased for anthelmintic evaluation. C.sinensis powder and the leaves of A. lebbeck L. were dried in sun light, ground in fine powder and subsequently sealed in sterilized polythene bags which were stored at 4°C for a week to avoid contamination. The ingredients were kept inactive at lower temperature (4°C).

Extract preparation

Powdered plant material was soaked in cold ethanol at 25°C for 3 days as described previously. The extracts were prepared in ethanol because the aqueous extracts were week in their efficacy as compared to ethanolic ones (Jabbar et al., 2007; Tariq et al., 2009). Later on, the macerated material was filtered through a Whatman’s filter paper. The filtrate was further processed at 46°C in a rotary evaporator to make a thick dark color crude extract (CEE). For use in experiments, the extracts were diluted in 1× phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and kept at 4°C. The worms can survive for 2-3 days in PBS alone. Levamisole, a synthetic drug (0.55mg) was used as a standard reference as reported previously (Nawaz et al., 2014). To evaluate in vitro anthelmintic activity, Adult Motility Assay (AMA) was used as described by Singh et al. (1985). In this assay, at certain concentrations of extracts, first the worms become paralyzed and then dead.

Worms’ collection

Adult Haemonchus contortus worms were used as test organism in AMA. The worms were obtained from abomasum of the goat from slaughter house. A sufficient number of worms (250-300) were collected from various goats in 1× PBS. The worms were identified by the entomologist of primary author’s University. After 2-3 hours, they were subjected to the experimental condition.

Adult motility assay (AMA)

Dilutions of CEE at 2, 4, 6 and 8mg/ml were made in 1x PBS which was also used as negative control. The experiment was repeated three times with positive control (levamisole) and negative control (PBS). The worms (10) in triplicate were treated with each CEE concentration in separate petri dishes at room temperature. The assessment of dead worms was made by loss of all sorts of movements and flat appearance. The mortality of the worms was studied after every two hours up till 8 hrs.

Statistical analysis

Statistical analysis was performed with the CoStat version 6.303. Statistical significance of the data was assessed by the Least significant difference (LSD) to compare the means (p<0.05).

 

Results

On exposure to crude extracts of A. lebbeck L. and C. sinensis L. adult H. contortus showed mortality rate at various concentrations on different time points (2-8 hrs). Figure 1 shows that A. lebbeck induced 66%, 84%, 88% and 85% mortality at 2mg/ml, 4mg/ml, 6mg/ml and 8mg/ml respectively after 8hrs of treatment. C. sinensis constitutes 44% mortality at 2mg/ml, 74% at 4mg/ml, 86% at 6mg/ml and 95% at 8mg/ml after 8 hrs.At low concentrations, the extracts were not significantly effective but with the increase of concentration, the extracts caused significant mortality of worms. Although the same concentrations of both plant extracts were used but C. sinensis caused 44% mortality whereas Albezia lebbeck L. caused 66% mortality at 2mg/ml concentration. At 6mg/ml, both plants had similar mortality rate (88% and 86%) showing identical efficacy but C. sinensis showed 95% mortality as compared to albezia lebbeck L. which caused 85% mortality at 8mg/ml concentration. At higher concentration (8mg/ml) the efficacy of C.sinensis L. was significantly more than Albezia lebbeck L. It was observed that Albezia lebbeck L showed insignificant discrepancy in mortality rate (88% & 85%) at 6mg/ml and 8mg/ml concentrations. Our results showed C. sinensis L. showed 95% mortality which was comparable to levamisole (positive control) efficacy. Similarly, insignificant number of worms underwent death in negative control (1x PBS) showing that massive death rate of worms could only happen when they exposed to different concentrations of CEE and not merely by any desiccation or lack of nutrients.

 

Table 1: Mortality of Adult Haemonchus contortus treated with various dose concentrations of CEE of A. lebbeck and C. sinensis at 2,4, 6 and 8 hrs treatment.

Albizia lebbeck	Time	Concentrations
		2 mg/ml	4 mg/ml	6 mg/ml	8 mg/ml
	2 hrs.	a1.00± 0.57b	a1.66± 0.66ab	a1.66± 0.33A	a2.00± 0.57A
	4 hrs.	a2.33± 0.33AB	a3.00± 0.57A	a1.66± 0.88A	a1.33± 0.33A
	6 hrs.	a4.00± 0.57A	b1.00± 0.57B	ab2.66± 0.33A	b1.00± 0.57A
	8 hrs.	a1.66± 0.66B	a3.00± 0.57A	a2.66± 0.33A	a2.33± 0.33A
Camellia sinensis	2 hrs.	b0.33± 0.33C	ab1.00± 0.57B	ab1.33± 0.33B	a2.00± 0.57A
	4 hrs.	b0.66± 0.33BC	ab2.00± 0.57AB	ab2.00± 0.57AB	a2.66± 0.88AB
	6 hrs.	b2.00± 0.57AB	ab2.66± 0.88A	ab2.33± 0.33AB	b1.99± 0.66B
	8 hrs.	ab2.33± 0.33A	ab1.66± 0.66AB	a3.00± 0.57A	a3.66± 0.33A

Values are expressed as mean ± SEM, (LSD test, p<0.05), ABCD means followed by the same letter in the column don’t differ significantly, abcd means preceded by the same letter in the row don’t differ significantly

 

Table 1 shows that the in vitro effect of CEE of A. lebbeck at 2mg/ml, the means effect was insignificant at all time points. At 4mg/ml, 6mg/ml, 8mg/ml the effect at 6hrs of treatment was significantly different while at 2, 4 and 8 hours, the effect was insignificant on mortality. Similarly, the extracts of C. Sinensis showed that at 2mg/ml, the effect after 8hrs of exposure was significant, while at other time points, the effect was insignificant. At 4mg/ml, the effect was insignificant at all time points. At 6mg/ml, the effect was significant at 8hrs, while at other time points it was insignificant. At 8mg/ml, the effect was significant at 6hrs of treatment, while at other points, the effect was insignificant.

Discussion

In the present investigation, two plant extracts were used in vitro to treat the nematode parasites, the main cause of infection in livestock. The parasites are developing increasing resistance against the available synthetic drugs. The natural anthelmintic drugs derived from plants are stable and has diversity in terms of its structure and therefore, they produce new selection pressure/s for the nematode parasites. These parasites cannot be stopped to develop resistance due to selection process against new anthelmintics but the process of developing resistance can be delayed on account of standardized dose of alternative anthelmintics in replacement of conventional synthetic drugs (Tariq, 2015).

Our findings revealed that on exposure to leave extract of A.lebbeck, the larvae showed highest mortality rate at 6mg/ml dose after 8 hrs. The efficacy of this extract is little lower than the synthetic drug, levamisole, used as reference in this study. The efficacy of A. lebbeck rises with increase of dose and time due to anthelmintic agents. This study was supported by the results of Hussain et al. (2008) who reported that crude aqueous methanol extract of A.lebbeck leaves displayed time and dose dependent activity against nematode worms but this activity was effective at high doses. The study is further supported by the reports of Sujon et al. (2008) who showed that anthelmintic efficacy of ethanolic extract of pineapple leaves increased with increase of treatment time. Anthelmintic activity of indigenous plants had been evaluated against helminths of sheep as reported by many scientists (Sujon et al., 2008; Tariq, 2015; Kumarasingha et al., 2014). It is also documented that A. lebbeck contained strong antiparasitic agents which had been found effective against worms and hence substantiate their use as ethno-veterinary medicine (Khan et al., 2010).

Present study reflected that extract of C. sinensis showed high mortality rate at 8mg/ml after 8 hrs. The anthelmintic efficacy of this plant is comparable to levamisole, a synthetic drug for nematode parasites. Our study is endorsed by Sherwani et al. (2013) who had evaluated the anthelmintic activity of C.sinensis aqueous extract at 25, 50 and 100 mg/ml against adult earthworm Pheretimaposthuma. The extract showed effective anthelminthic activity against the earthworms.

Taken together, the current study shows that both plants, A.lebbeck and C.sinensis possess anthelmintic potential at high doses. The ethanolic extracts of these plants can be evaluated against other Helminths parasites to have complete profile of anthelmintic potential. Moreover, the present study may help in replacing the synthetic anthelmintic with herbal ones to improve the control of worms.

 

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