In-Vitro Anthelminthic Potential of Ethanolic and Methanolic Stem Bark Extract of Adansonia digitata Linn (Baobab Tree) on earthworms (Pheritima posthuma)

Abstract

Medicinal plants have been used for decades by rural dwellers to alleviate suffering due to parasitic diseases and interest have grown in recent times on their application as alternatives for deworming of animals. Hence, this study was undertaken to investigated the in vitro anthelminthic potential of ethanolic and methanolic stem bark extracts of activity of Adansonia digitata Linn (Baobab Tree) on earthworms (Pheritima posthuma) using 12.5, 25.0, 50.0 and 100.0 mg/mL ethanolic and methanolic extract concentrations. Data obtained indicates that after 60-minute of exposure, the mortality pattern mirrored that observed at 30 minutes, with the mean number of live worms decreasing from 1.25±1.26 (at 12.5 mg/ml) to 0±0 (at 100 mg/ml) for the ethanol extract and 1.5±0.57 (at 12.5 mg/ml) to 0±0 (at 100 mg/ml) for the methanol extract. This reduction was statistically significant (p<0.05) and compared favourably with Albendazole (40 mg/ml), which is the positive control. A dose dependent inverse relationship was observed with increase in the number of dead worms and decrease in the number of earthworm alive. After 30 minutes of exposure, the number of dead earthworms rose to a 100% at 100mg/mL concentration for both extracts. Overall, the anthelmintic activity was significantly greater after 60 minutes compared to 30 minutes of exposure, indicating enhanced effectiveness over time across the treatment groups.