IN VITRO EVALUATION OF ANTHELMINTIC EFFECTS OF THE UNRIPE FRUITS OF AEGLE MARMELOS (INDIAN BAEL)

Abstract

Resistance to commonly used anthelmintics stipulate alternative control methods. The use of natural herbal products with anthelmintic properties can address the issue. In this regard, the present study was conducted to determine the in vitro antiparasitic activities of aqueous and methanolic extracts of Aegle marmelos by using different in vitro assays at various concentrations of extracts. The evaluation was done by egg hatch assay (EHA) and larval development assay (LDA) on Strongyle-type eggs and larval stages of Haemonchus contortus isolated from the goat fecal samples respectively. In EHA, 74.34% and 79.71% were the mean inhibition percent against Strongyle type eggs from hatching at the highest concentration of 50 mg/ml tested and the change was 7.2 and 8.24 fold higher than negative PBS control while 77.45% and 85.78% was mean inhibition percentage in terms of Haemonchus contortus L3 larvae development at the highest concentration 1 mg/ml tested and the change was 14.5 and 18.3 fold higher than negative control by aqueous and methanolic extract of A. marmelos, respectively. Both extracts showed dose-dependent inhibition at all the concentrations tested and were similar to positive control-like treatment with 0.125 mg/ml albendazole for EHA and LDA. The study concluded that the aqueous and methanolic extracts of A. marmelos have antiparasitic potential and can be used to control parasitic infection.

Keywords

• anthelmintic activity
• haemonchus contortus
• egg hatch assay
• larval developmental assay
• aegle marmelos