Evaluation of Anthelmintic activities of Single and Combined Extracts of Picralima nitida and Gongronema latifolium against the Gastrointestinal parasite (Heligmosomoides bakeri)

Abstract

Helminth infections are among the common infections affecting a large proportion of the world’s population, and most of these  infections are generally limited to the tropics. For 27 days, anthelmintic activities of orally administered 500mg/kg per body weight of  single and combined ethanol extracts of seeds of Picralima and roots of Amaranth globe were determined in vivo using Heligmosomoides  bakeri, a gastrointestinal parasite of rodents. Combined extracts were administered at 500 mg/kg to H. bakeri-infected mice in ratios 1:1,  2:3, 3:2, 4:1 and 1:4 of P. nitida to G. latifolium. Albendazole (10mg/kg) and distilled water were used as positive and negative controls  (untreated), respectively. Anthelmintic activities of P. nitida and G. latifolium were assessed by comparing the faecal egg count and worm  burden from the extract groups to the untreated group. Asingle extract of P. nitida at 500 mg/kg had higher (p< 0.05) chemo suppression  (88.41 %) than a single extract of G. latifolium (51.84 %). Acombination of P. nitida and G. latifolium in a ratio of 2:3 had the  highest chemo suppression of 90.07 % when compared to other dose combinations. The combined extracts had higher chemo  suppression (p<0.05) than when compared to the single extract of G. latifolium. The single extract of P. nitida and G. latifolium reduced  worm burden by 76.94% and 43.65%, respectively. However, the combination of P. nitida and G. latifolium in a ratio of 2:3 reduced the  worm burden by 79.16%. The study showed that P. nitida and G. latifolium have anthelmintic activity. G. latifolium gave better anthelmintic  activity when combined with P. nitida. P. nitida and G. latifolium could lead to the development of non-toxic, effective, and cheap  anthelmintics.