In vitro anthelmintic effects of Moringa oleifera leaves (FHI 109897) on bovine helminth eggs

Abstract

The need to control helminths resistance to the conventional anthelmintics necessitated the evaluation of phytochemicals in Moringa oleifera leaves for their possible in vitro anthelmintic effects on bovine helminth eggs. The quantitative faecal egg counts (FEC) were determined using the modified McMaster technique. Phytochemical analysis of the M. oleifera leaves was carried out using standard laboratory techniques. The anthelmintic efficacy of M. oleifera leaves was evaluated using different extracts prepared in different solvents viz, hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol. The different extracts from M. oleifera leaves were tested on the viability of the faecal eggs of two gastrointestinal nematodes of cattle: Oesophagostomum species and Syngamus laryngeus, using in vitro assays. The different concentrations of the extracts used were 0.11 g/ml, 0.22 g/ml, 0.33 g/ml and 0.44 g/ml. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, cyanogenic glycosides, flavonoids, saponins, steroids, tannins and triterpenoids in M. oleifera leaves. The results of the FEC and anthelmintic assay revealed that the hatching of the Oesophagostomum species and S. laryngeus eggs were totally inhibited by only the methanolic extract of M. oleifera leaves at 0.22g/mls, 0.33 g/mls and 0.44 g/mls . The study concluded that M. oleifera is rich in nutritional components and anti-nutritional factors. The methanolic extract of M. oleifera leaves has a great potential as an anthelmintic compared to the other extracts.

Keywords: Anthelmintic, Moringa oleifera, Cattle, Oesophagostomum, Syngamus laryngeus