Anthelminthic efficacy of aqueous extracts of Garcina kola seed and stem bark against strongylid nematodes of small ruminants in Nigeria

Abstract

The anthelminthic efficacy of the crude aqueous extracts of the seed and stem of Garcina kola against strongylid nematodes of small ruminants was investigated using the invitro egg hatch assay method. Compared to the water (control0 cultures, the extracts demonstrated significant (P<0.05) anthelminthic activity through reduction in the hatching of strongylid nematode eggs. The highest reduction in egg hatch (98.9% and 100% respectively) was observed at the 100mg/ml dilution of the seed and stem barks extracts. The extracts showed graded anthelminthic efficacy as their activity decreased with increasing dilution. At the 100mg/ml concentration of each extract, the reduction in egg hatch was comparable to those obtained with various dilutions of levamisole and albendazole both of which showed 100% reduction in egg hatch. The extracts therefore showed promise for use as possible anthelminthic for the regular treatment and control of helminthiasis in livestock.

Keywords: anthelminthic efficacy, Garcina kola, seed, stem bark

Nigerian Journal of Parasitology Vol. 25, 2004: 1-5