Evaluation of the Efficacy of Aqueous Extracts of Albizia antihelmintica and Maerua edulis against the nematode Heligmosomoides polgyrus Infection in Mice

Abstract

Antihelmintic activity of the water extract of Albizia antihelmintica bark and Maerua edulis root was evaluated in mice that had been experimentally infected with the intestinal nematode Heligmosomoides polygyrus. The mice were randomly allocated into six treatment groups and one control group. Group 1, 2 and 3 were given an oral dose of water extracts of A. antihelmintica at 5 gm/kg, 10gm/kg and 20 gm/kg bodyweight respectively in a divided dose on day 17 post-infection. Groups 4, 5 and 6 were given water extracts of M. edulis at a dosage of 5 gm/kg, 10 gm/kg and 20 gm/kg bodyweight respectively in a divided dose. Group 7 was the control and was concurrently given a double oral dose of 0.2 ml of physiological saline each. Mortality of some mice was observed in four groups after treatment. Five days after treatment, feacal worm egg count reduction was determined. The results showed a percentage feacal H. polygyrus egg count reduction of 72 %, 69%, and 42% in groups 2, 6, 3, and 1 respectively. Seven days after treatment, there was a reduction in worm counts at postmortem of 68%, 36%, 20%, 19%, 16%, and 14% in groups 1, 5,2,3,6, and 4. respectively compared to untreated controls. These results indicate that the plant extracts had antihelmintic activity and support the use of these plants as antihelmintics.

The Kenya Veterinarian Vol. 28 2005: pp. 24-28