Phytochemical and anthelmintic activity of Terminalia catappa (Linn) leaves

Abstract

Helminthiases is one of the tropical neglected diseases (NTDs) caused by soil transmitted helminths (STHs). The development of resistance to anthelmintics was observed and so there is an urgent need to discover novel drugs. This study investigates the anthelmintic activity of the Terminalia catappa. Dried fallen leaves of the plant was extracted with petroleum ether, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, methanol and water using microwave assisted extraction (MAE). Anthelmintic activity of the crude extracts were investigated against Haemonchus concortus. Various concentrations (6.25, 12.5, 25, 50 and 100 mg/ml) of each extract and Albendazole were tested in the egg hatch assay and larval mortality assay. The dichloromethane extract displayed the highest egg hatch inhibition percentage of 98.94% at 6.25mg/ml while the methanol extract showed the lowest inhibition of 95.77% at the same concentration. The dichloromethane extract also showed 100% larval reduction at a concentration of 12.5mg/ml after 3 days and 98.9% at the least concentration of 6.25mg/ml. The preliminary phytochemical analysis indicated the presence of various phytoconstituents in all the tested extract. This result confirm the use of Terminalia catappa by traditional healers for the treatment of worm infections.

Keywords:  Terminalia catappa, Anthelmintic assay, Haemonchus concortus, Phytochemical screening