In vitro anthelmintic activities of three ethnomedicinal plant extracts against Haemonchus contortus

Aim of study: To investigate the in vitro anthelmintic efficacies of three plants, Annona senegalensis (AS), Cochlospermum planchonii (CP), and Sarcocephalus latifolius (SL), used by livestock farmers in Northern Nigeria, to treat gastrointestinal nematode infections in ruminants. Area of study: Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. Materials and methods: The plants were selected through a structured questionnaire administered to livestock farmers in Northern Nigeria. Aqueous and acetone leaf (AS and SL) and root (CP) extracts of these plants were investigated for their anthelmintic activity against Haemonchus contortus using the egg hatch inhibition assay at concentration levels of 0.3125 to 10 mg/mL in 2.5% dimethyl sulfoxide. Main results: A probit log-dose response analysis showed that acetone extract of CP achieved 100% egg hatch inhibition similar to the commercial drug at all tested concentrations after 48 hours of incubation, while AS demonstrated 88.7% egg hatch inhibition. Acetone extract of SL had less than 50% egg hatch inhibition at all tested concentrations. On the other hand, the aqueous extract of CP and SL both exhibited 100% inhibition at 5 and 10 mg/mL of the tested concentrations, while AS had less than 50% egg hatch inhibition at all tested concentrations. Research highlights: This study identified CP, AS, and SL as medicinal plants with rich sources of molecules that have potential value in the development of novel anthelmintic drugs.