Arun K. Yadav

Antidiarrheal Activity of Lithocarpus dealbata. and Urena lobata. Extracts: Therapeutic Implications

Abstract This study reports the antidiarrheal potential of Lithocarpus dealbata. (Miq.) Rehder (Fagaceae) and Urena lobata. L. (Malvaceae) used in the traditional medicine system of the Naga tribes of in India. The antidiarrheal efficacies of the seed extract of L. dealbata. and leaf extract of U. lobata. were evaluated in murine models by three different approaches: (i) castor oil–induced diarrhea, (ii) PGE2-induced enteropooling, and (iii) small intestinal transit. The 800 mg/kg dose of methanol extracts of both plants showed significant (p < 0.001) inhibitor activity against castor oil–induced diarrhea and PGE2-induced intrafluid accumulation. Both extracts also showed a significant (p < 0.001) reduction in the gastrointestinal motility in charcoal meal test. Acute toxicity tests did not reveal any sign of toxicity in the animals. The observed results could explain their use as antidiarrheal agents in traditional medicine.

Anticestodal efficacy of Psidium guajava against experimental Hymenolepis diminuta infection in rats

Objective: To investigate the anticestodal efficacy of Psidium guajava L. leaf extract. Materials and Methods: Anticestodal efficacy was evaluated using experimental Hymenolepis diminuta infection in rats. The leaf extract was administered orally to different groups of experimentally infected H. diminuta infections in rats. The efficacy was adjudged in terms of parasite eggs/g (EPG) of faeces count before and after treatment, direct count of surviving worms remaining in small intestines after completion of treatment and by host clearance of parasite. In all the experiments, the effect of leaf extract was compared with a standard anticestodal drug, praziquantel (PZQ). Results: The leaf extract showed reduction in parasite EPG of faeces count in a dose-dependent manner. It further showed comparatively low recovery of worms including scolices in the small intestine and host clearance of parasite in a dose dependent manner. In all the experimental models the anticestodal efficacy of leaf extract was significantly comparable with that of PZQ. Conclusion: The leaf extract of P. guajava possesses anticestodal efficacy. Study supports its folk medicinal use in the treatment of intestinal-worm infections in northeastern part of India.

Anticestodal activity of Adhatoda vasica extract against Hymenolepis diminuta infections in rats

AIM OF THIS STUDY Adhatoda vasica Nees has been commonly used in the indigenous system of medicine of Naga tribes in India for curing intestinal worm infections. In this study the anticestodal efficacy of Adhatoda vasica leaf extract was evaluated using Hymenolepis diminuta-rat experimental model. MATERIALS AND METHODS The anticestodal efficacy of leaf extract was determined by monitoring the eggs per gram (EPG) of faeces counts and percentage worm recovery rates following treatment with methanol leaf extract of this plant to different groups of rats harbouring immature and mature Hymenolepis diminuta infections. RESULTS The result indicated 800 mg/kg double dose of extract has profound efficacy against mature worms, where the EPG count was reduced by 79.57% and percentage worm recovery rate by 16.60%. These effects were better than treatment with 5 mg/kg single dose of praziquantel, the standard drug. In case of efficacy against immature worms, the extract showed a significant reduction in worm recovery rate (from 100% in control to 20.00% at 800 mg/kg dose of extract). CONCLUSION The study shows that the leaf extract of Adhatoda vasica possesses significant anticestodal efficacy and supports its use in the folk medicine.

Anticestodal Activity of Trifolium repens. Extract

ABSTRACT Trifolium repens. L. is an herbal plant that is used in the folk medicine of the Naga tribes of India as a deworming remedy. This study deals with evaluating its anticestodal activity using experimental Hymenolepis diminuta. Rudolphi infections in albino rats. Doses of T. repens. aerial shoots extract 200 and 500 mg/kg reduced the mean fecal egg counts of H. diminuta. by 47.72% and 54.59% and worm recovery rate by 60.00% and 40.00%, respectively. Praziquantel, the standard cestocidal drug, reduced the mean fecal egg count by 65.90% and worm recovery rate by 26.67%. The study suggests that the aerial shoots of T. repens. bear anticestodal properties and supports its use in the traditional medicine system.

Nematode parasite infections of domestic pigs in a sub-tropical and high-rainfall area of India

Fourteen hundred and ninety-six domestic pigs, Sus scrofa domestica L., from a sub-tropical and high-rainfall area of India were examined over a period of 18 months to ascertain their nematode parasite spectrum. The eleven species recovered, arranged in descending order of prevalence, are as follows: Ascaris suum, Oesophagostomum dentatum, Bourgelatia diducta, Stephanurus dentatus, Globocephalus connorfilii, Physocephalus sexalutus, Ascarops dentata, A. strongylina, Pseudocruzia orientalis, Setaria bernardi and Gnathostoma hispidum. This is also the first report of the occurrence of Setaria bernardi in pigs in India. A. Suum, the most prevalent species (51.67%) found in the pigs of the region, is presumably of zoonotic importance. Another species of public health significance that was encountered in the survey was Gnathostoma hispidum. The overall infection rate was considerably higher (76.42%) in the low-altitude region than in the high-altitude one (62.50%). The highest level of infection (73.2%) was observed during autumn and the lowest (63.0%) in winter.

Gastrointestinal nematode infections of goats in a sub-tropical and humid zone of India

Twelve hundred and twenty-eight goats (Capra hircus L.) from a sub-tropical and humid zone of India were examined for gastrointestinal nematodes. The species encountered in the region were: Haemonchus contortus, Bunostomum trigonocephalum, Oesophagostomum columbianum, Trichuris globulosa, O. aspersum, and T. ovis. The overall infection rate was 86.8%. Among various species found, H. contortus emerged as the most prevalent, although B. trigonocephalum and O. columbianum were also significantly in evidence. The seasonal fluctuation in infection was assessed by monitoring the faecal egg count of 1638 goats slaughtered during the 1-year period. The maximum values for the prevalence and overall mean eggs g-1 of faeces (EPG) were observed after the heavy rainfall season and remained at a relatively high level from July to December. H. contortus and O. columbianum appear to be of major importance as parasites in the goats of this climatic zone; the role of climatic factors in their prevalence is discussed.

Therapeutic efficacy of Zanthoxylum rhetsa DC extract against experimental Hymenolepis diminuta (Cestoda) infections in rats.

Zanthoxylum rhetsa DC (Rutaceae), commonly called prickly ash, is used in the folk medicine of Naga tribes in India as a deworming remedy. In the present study, the therapeutic efficacy of Z. rhetsa leaf extract was investigated against experimental Hymenolepis diminuta (Cestoda) infections in albino rats. The efficacy of extract was determined on the basis of reduction in the eggs per gram of feces (EPG) counts and worm load following treatment with 100, 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg, p.o. doses of plant extract. For comparison’s sake, animals were also treated with a reference drug, praziquantel at 5 and 25 mg/kg body weight doses. Three treatment regimes were followed to monitor the effects of extract on cestode parasite: (1) Treatment on day 2–4 postinoculation (pi) of cysticercoids against the larval stages; (2) treatment on day 8–10 pi against the immature stages; and (3) treatment on day 21–25 pi against the adult stages of parasite. The extract revealed its maximum efficacy against the larval stage, where its 800 mg/kg dose showed a worm count reduction of 86.60%, compared to 80.00% by the reference drug, praziquantel (5 mg/kg dose). The EPG counts also decreased drastically from 23,389 ± 2,372 to 0 in the same treatment group, compared to 33,161 ± 1,383 recorded in the control group. The efficacy of extract was found to be of moderate level against the immature and adult stages of parasite. The present investigation holds the evidence that the leaves of Z. rhetsa possess significant anticestodal property and supports its use in folk medicine.

Evaluation of the efficacy of three indigenous strains of entomopathogenic nematodes from Meghalaya, India against mustard sawfly, Athalia lugens proxima Klug (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae)

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of three indigenous strains of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) from Meghalaya, India, namely Heterorhabditis indica Poinar, Karunakar and David, Steinernema thermophilum Ganguly and Singh, and Steinernema glaseri (Steiner) against the last instar larva of mustard sawfly, Athalia lugens proxima Klug, a serious pest of mustard and radish in India. The larvae of A. lugens proxima were exposed to 10, 25, 50, 75 and 100 infective juveniles (IJs) concentration of each nematode species in Petri dishes. Percentage larval mortality and nematode reproduction in insect larvae was studied. The sawfly larvae were found to be susceptible to all the three EPNs tested, but the degree of susceptibility to infection varied from among nematode species. Based on LC50 value, H. indica was the most pathogenic species. Nevertheless, S. thermophilum and S. glaseri also showed a high insect mortality. This study also revealed that all the three test nematodes are also able to propagate in the host cadaver and produce first generation infective juveniles. However, H. indica produced significantly more number of IJs per insect larva than the other two nematode species. The progeny production was recorded to be the least in case of S. glaseri. In conclusion, our findings suggest that of the three indigenous EPNs studied, H. indica and S. thermophilum have good potential as biological control agents against mustard sawfly, A. lugens proxima.

Anticestodal Efficacy of Lasia spinosa. Extract Against Experimental Hymenolepis diminuta. Infections in Rats

Abstract The use of Lasia spinosa. (L.) Thwaites (Araceae) leaves in the treatment of intestinal worm infections is a common ethnobotanical practice in the Naga tribes of India. In the current study, the anticestodal efficacy of L. spinosa. leaf extract was investigated against a tapeworm using Hymenolepis diminuta.–rat animal model. The anticestodal effects of L. spinosa. leaf extract was determined by monitoring the eggs per gram of feces (EPG) counts and percentage worm recovery rates after treatment with leaf extract in single and double doses of 200, 400, 800, and 1600 mg/kg that were given orally for 5 days to the rats harboring immature and mature worms. The effect of plant extract was found to be dose-dependent, and double doses showed better efficacy as compared with single doses. In the case of infections with immature worms, 1600 mg/kg double dose of L. spinosa. leaf extract reduced the fecal egg counts of H. dimunta. by 80.8% and worm recovery rate by 16.7%, respectively. Praziquantel, the standard anticestodal drug given in 5 mg/kg single dose, reduced the fecal egg count by 83.2% and worm recovery rate by 16.7%. In the case of efficacy against mature worms, 1600 mg/kg double dose of leaf extract reduced the fecal egg counts of H. diminuta. by 94.9% and worm recovery rate by 8.5%, respectively. Praziquantel (5 mg/kg, single dose) reduced the fecal egg counts by 95.1% and worm recovery rate by 16.7%. The study suggests that the leaf extract of L. spinosa. possesses significant anticestodal efficacy and supports its use in folk medicine.

Acute and sub-acute oral toxicity assessment of the methanolic extract from leaves of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. in mice

Background: The leaves of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. (Malvaceae) are used for the treatment of dysentery and diarrhea, to promote draining of abscesses and as analgesic agent in the traditional medicine of Cook Islands, Haiti, Japan and Mexico. Aim: The present study investigated the oral acute and subacute toxicity of methanol leaf extract of H. rosa-sinensis in mice. Materials and Methods: In the acute toxicity study, a single oral dose of 2000 mg/kg of extract was given to five mice at 48 h intervals. Animals were observed individually for any clinical signs of toxicity or mortality for 14 days. In the sub-acute toxicity study, mice were treated with 400 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg doses of the extract for 14 days. The hematological and biochemical parameters and histopathology of liver and kidneys of animals were studied at the end of the experiment. Results: For acute treatment, the extract did not reveal any signs of toxicity or mortality in any animal, during the 14 days observation period. The LD50 of extract was estimated to be greater than 2000 mg/kg. In the sub-acute toxicity study, administration of 400 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg doses of extract to mice for two weeks did not reveal any marked adverse effects on hematological, biochemical parameters and histopathology of liver and kidney in the 400 mg/kg group. However, hepato-renal toxicity as evidenced by elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, total and indirect bilirubin, urea and creatinine was seen in the animals that received 800 mg/kg dose of extract for 14 days. In addition, in the same group of animals, the histological assessments of liver and kidney also showed various adverse effects viz. dilated sinusoids, apoptotic nuclei and inflammatory infiltrate inside sinusoidal capillaries in the liver, and marked the disorganization of tubules and glomeruli, and enlarged interstitial spaces in the kidney. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that for traditional medicinal purpose, only a low dose of H. rosa-sinensis leaf extract (i.e., 400 mg/kg) should be considered as safe.