Abstract: Haemonchus contortus, the twisted stomach worm is the most common and the most destructive of the gastrointestinal helminth. It is found in the abomasum of the sheep and goat. Chemical control of helminths coupled with improved management has important worm control strategy throughout the world. However, increasing problems of development of resistance in helminths against anthelmintics have led to the proposal of screening of medicinal plants for their anthelmintic activity. In the present investigation, the anthelmintic efficacy of Glycyrrhiza glabra was assessed based on its effect on the motility of Haemonchus contortus. In the present study, hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethanol and aqueous extracts of rhizome of Glycyrrhiza glabra were tested for their efficacy against the nematode, H. contortus. Adult live worms were collected from the abomasum of the sheep and were maintained in vitro in Hedon-Fleig solution (pH 7.0) at 37°C. The worms were exposed to various concentrations (1, 3 and 5 mg/ml) of the plant extracts for 24 h. Based on the gross visual observation on the motility of the worms in various concentrations of different extracts, ethanol extract of rhizome of Glycyrrhiza glabra were selected for motility test. Five different sub-lethal concentrations of ethanol extract of rhizome of Glycyrrhiza glabra were selected for further studies. Quantitative measure on the motility of the treated parasites using Electronic Micromotility Meter (EMM) confirmed the inhibitory effect of GgEE on H. contortus. Motor activity of H. contortus was inhibited in GgEE treated worms at 0.5 mg/ml after 8 h of exposure. The worms did not show any revival after 8 h and the worm death was confirmed by their pale white colour appearance. Active motility was observed in the untreated control worms throughout the period of incubation. The inhibition of the motility is directly proportional to the concentration of the extracts and period of incubation and maximum inhibition occurred in the highest concentration after 8 h of exposure. GgEE possesses a remarkable anthelmintic activity against Haemonchus contortus. It may serve as an alternative for anthelmintic chemotherapeutic agents and could be used in safe and eco friendly manner. However, this study warrants further in vivo studies for practical utility.
Keywords: Haemonchus contortus, Glycyrrhiza glabra and Electronic Micromotility Meter (EMM).
Title: Anthelmintic efficacy of Glycyrrhiza glabra on the nematode Haemonchus contortus – In vitro study
Author: Dr. Kungumampriya, B.Suresh, Dr. K.Manoj Dhanraj
International Journal of Life Sciences Research
ISSN 2348-313X (Print), ISSN 2348-3148 (online)
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