In vitro anthelmintic activity of Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi (Anacardiaceae) against gastrointestinal nematodes of small ruminants
TL;DR
In vitro anthelmintic activity of the ethanolic extract of S. terebinthifolius against eggs of gastrointestinal nematodes of small ruminants confirms the promising potential of the ethanolic extract from S. terebinthifolius leaves in controlling gastrointestinal helminths.
Abstract
Schinus terebinthifolius is a plant widely used in tropical areas to treat various pathological conditions. The effect of this plant against nematodes of small ruminants has not been investigated so far. In this study, we evaluated the in vitro anthelmintic activity of the ethanolic extract of S. terebinthifolius against eggs of gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) of small ruminants. After collection, leaves of S. terebinthifolius were crushed and subjected to maceration followed by solvent removal using a rotary evaporator. The dry residues were subjected to phytochemical prospecting. Anthelmintic activity was evaluated through the egg hatching test assays using eggs of GIN from small ruminants. Five extract concentrations ranging from 3.12 to 100 mg/mL were assessed. The median inhibitory concentration for the larval stage inhibition parameter was determined. Nine compounds were detected in the ethanolic extract of the leaves, with the presence of flavonoids and tannins. This extract was effective in inhibiting the development of GIN eggs, with an average inhibitory concentration of 21.11 mg/mL for sheep and 28.24 mg/mL for goats. The data reported here confirm the promising potential of the ethanolic extract from S. terebinthifolius leaves in controlling gastrointestinal helminths. Further studies are needed to evaluate its applicability under in vivo conditions.