In vitro study of the Plumbago indica root extract on Fasciola gigantica

The triclabendazole-resistant Fasciola spp. populations have been reported in a number of developing countries, therefore the drug discovery has been required. The objective of this study was to evaluate the trematodicidal action of Plumbago indica (PI) root extract on newly excysted juvenile (NEJs) and 4 weeks of Fasciola gigantica after incubating the parasites in M-199 medium containing the PI at increasing concentrations (0.1, 1, 10, and 100 µg/ml) when compared with triclabendazole (TCZ) using relative mortality (RM) index, survival index (SI) ratios, and percentage of larvae migration inhibition (%LMI) assays. The percentage of LMI in NEJs incubated with PI extract showed lesser efficacy than TCZ at the low concentrations but when NEJs incubated with PI at 10 µg/mL showed 87.3% LMI while flukes incubated with TCZ was 83.3% LMI. The RM and SI values of NEJs and PI-treated 4 weeks flukes showed progressively decreased when increasing incubation time and dosages. Flukes treated with PI at 100 µg/ml show 50% RM in early 1 h after incubation and were completely immobile at 24 h. In contrast, flukes incubated with TCZ showed active movement until 12 h, they had 90% RM. The flukes incubated with PI at 100 µg/ml showed less than 50% SI after 6 h and were completely dead at 24 h. The swelling and blebbing tegumental surface of F.gigantica occurred after incubation, but their tegument did not peel off. These results suggest that PI extract could be against the motility of NEJs and 4-weeks stage of F.gigantica.

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