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 ofappetite, feeding efficiency and hence decreased productivity. Animal deaths due to nematode infections arecommon in tropical and subtropical regions where control programs based solely on the use of syntheticanthelmintics are no longer sustainable because of an increased prevalence of gastrointestinal nematoderesistance, the slow development of new anthelmintics, high costs to poor farmers and concerns regarding residuein 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 nomadicpastoralists. Ethanolic extracts of root (REE) and leaf (LEE) of P. juliflora were found to exhibit in vitro activityagainst adult Haemonchus contortus, with activity comparable to Albendazole, a synthetic anthelmintic drug. Theanthelmintic activity of LEE was significantly higher than REE (P<0.05), but lower than ALB. The observed in vitroanthelmintic activity was attributed to saponins and condensed tannins and perhaps to alkaloids present in theplant. Phytochemical analysis confirmed presence of tannins, saponins and alkaloids, among otherphytoconstituents. These phytochemicals are known to exhibit anthelmintic activity, therefore making the plant apotential candidate for drug development against gastrointestinal nematodes in ruminants.