PHYTOCHEMICAL AND IN VITRO ANTHELMINTIC STUDIES OF PROSOPIS JULIFLORA (SW.) DC (FABACEAE) EXTRACTS AGAINST HAEMONCHUS CONTORTUS, AN OVINE NEMATODE

Abstract

Gastrointestinal nematode infections in ruminants have direct effects such as mortality, weaknesses, loss of appetite, feeding efficiency and hence decreased productivity. Animal deaths due to nematode infections are common in tropical and subtropical regions where control programs based solely on the use of synthetic anthelmintics are no longer sustainable because of an increased prevalence of gastrointestinal nematode resistance, the slow development of new anthelmintics, high costs to poor farmers and concerns regarding residue in food and the environment. Alternative methods of control are thus required. Prosopis juliflora is a fast-growing, drought-resistant tree adapted to poor and saline soils in arid and semi-arid lands of Kenya, inhabited by nomadic pastoralists. Ethanolic extracts of root (REE) and leaf (LEE) of P. juliflora were found to exhibit in vitro activity against adult Haemonchus contortus, with activity comparable to Albendazole, a synthetic anthelmintic drug. The anthelmintic activity of LEE was significantly higher than REE (P<0.05), but lower than ALB. The observed in vitro anthelmintic activity was attributed to saponins and condensed tannins and perhaps to alkaloids present in the plant. Phytochemical analysis confirmed presence of tannins, saponins and alkaloids, among other phytoconstituents. These phytochemicals are known to exhibit anthelmintic activity, therefore making the plant a potential candidate for drug development against gastrointestinal nematodes in ruminants.