Preliminary Report on the Effect of Savanna Plants <i>Leucaena leucocephala</i>, <i>Parkia platycephala</i> and <i>Senna alata</i> against Eggs and Immature Stages of Trichostrongylid Nematodes In Vitro

• Main Authors: Benta Natânia Silva Figueiredo, Marcello Otake Sato, Laiane Teixeira Sousa Moura, Sandra Maria Botelho Mariano, Tarso da Costa Alvim, Ilsamar Mendes Soares, Satoru Kawai, Sergio Donizeti Ascêncio, Helcileia Dias Santos, Joseilson Alves Paiva, Megumi Sato, Viviane Mayumi Maruo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-11-01
• Series: Pathogens
• Subjects: nematicide activity; parasite control; phytotherapy; plant secondary metabolites
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/9/12/986

The current study evaluated the anthelmintic effect of different extracts of <i>Leucaena leucocephala</i>, <i>Parkia platycephala,</i> and <i>Senna alata</i> on trichostrongylid eggs and infective larvae and determined the potential active components of each plant. Dried and macerated plant material was concentrated using rotaevaporation to obtain the crude extract (CE), followed by solvent partitioning to obtain hexanic (HexE), acetatic (AcE), and butanolic (BuE) extracts used for phytochemical analysis and anthelmintic efficacy testing in vitro. All the crude and partitioned extracts tested showed inhibition activity in the hatching of trichostrongylid eggs. Larvicidal efficacy was observed at CE concentrations of 2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 mg/mL for <i>P. platycephala</i> and <i>S. alata</i>. However, <i>L. leucocephala</i> CE did not significantly reduce the number of living larvae in the tested concentrations. Chromatographic analysis revealed several active metabolites; gallic acid, ellagic acid, naringin, morin, and kaempferol on AcE of <i>P. platycephala</i>; gallic acid, rutin, and ellagic acid on BuE of <i>P. platycephala</i>; and gallic acid and naringin on BuE of <i>L. leucocephala</i>. The extracts of <i>P. platycephala</i>, <i>L. leucocephala,</i> and <i>S. alata</i> leaves showed egg hatching inhibition and larvicidal activity, probably produced by tannins and flavonoids, which may act alone or by synergism.