Abstract
The present study was performed in the Department of Pharmacology in collaboration with the Department of Physiology and Department of Parasitology, FVS, BAU, Mymensingh, Bangladesh. The prevalence of natural gastro-intestinal nematodes was observed in cattle during the period from June, 2004 to May, 2005 in Kotoally thana of Mymensingh district of Bangladesh. 20 indigenous medicinal plants were collected for in vitro efficacy trials against gastro-intestinal nematodes. On the basis of highest efficacy, among 20 plants, eight plants i.e. neem (Azadirachta indica, A. Juss.), barbados lilac (Melia azedarach, Linn.), tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum, Linn.), betel leaf (Piper betle, Linn.), pineapple (Ananas comosus, Merr.), jute (Corchorus capsularis, Linn.), turmeric (Curcuma longa, Linn.) and garlic (Allium sativum, Linn.); @100mg/kg bwt.] and 2 patent drugs [albendazole (Benazol) and levamisole (Levavet®); @7.5mg/kg bwt.] were selected to evaluate the efficacy against natural gastro-intestinal nematodes in cattle on the basis of EPG count. The effects of these indigenous medicinal plants and patent drugs on some haematological parameters (TEC, Hb, PCV, TLC, DLC, MCV, MCHC and MCH), biochemical parameters (ALT and AST) and clinical parameter (body weight) were also observed. Sixty six (66) naturally parasitized cattle of BAU Dairy Farm, Mymensingh were randomly divided into eleven groups, each consisting of six (6) cattle. Water extract of leaves of neem, barbados lilac, tobacco, betel leaf, pineapple and jute were administered orally to the cattle of group A, B, C, D, E and F, respectively. Cattle of group G and H received orally water extract of rhizome of turmeric and bulbs of garlic, respectively. Cattle of group I and J were given oral two patent drugs i.e. Benazol and Levavet, respectively. Cattle of group K was kept as infected control group. Faecal samples, body weight, haematological and biochemical parameters were examined before treatment and on 3rd, 10th, 17th and 28th day. The prevalence of gastro-intestinal nematodes was 84.08% (rainy seasons-97%, summer-85.5% and winter seasons-69.75%). The prevalence of strongyles (Haemonchus sp., Trichostrongylus sp., Oesophagostomum sp. and Mecistocirrus sp.), Bunostomum sp., Strongyloides sp., Trichuris sp. and Capillaria sp. were 63.92%, 26.33%, 21.5%, 17.25% and 24.5%, respectively. Water extracts of 20 indigenous plants showed potential in vitro activities against adult parasites. Out of these 20 plant extracts, 10 plants (neem, tobacco, barbados lilac, betel leaf, pineapple, jute, turmeric, garlic, dodder and bitter gourd) showed 100% efficacy against adult worms, 4 plants (devil's tree, papaya, white verticillia and chaste tree) showed 90-98% and others (lime tree, white teak, conessi tree, sweet basil, pomegranate and sage) showed below 90% at a concentration of 100 mg/ml. A significant (p<0.01) reduction of EPG count was found following administration of neem (48.05-65.77%), barbados lilac (39.11-60.07%), tobacco (34.32-51.26%), betel leaf (2.91-9.8%), pineapple (29.50- 45.36%), jute (8.80-27.76%), turmeric (6.09-19.27%), garlic (20.41-40.81%), Benazol (62.19- 90.44%) and Levavet (89.31-100%) in cattle. The EPG count of the control group (K) were significantly (p<0.01) increased up to the last day of experimental period. After treatment with neem, barbados lilac, tobacco, betel leaf, pineapple, jute, turmeric, garlic, Benazol and Levavet, total erythrocyte count (TEC), haemoglobin (Hb) content, packed cell volume (PCV), neutrophil count of differential leukocyte count (DLC), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) were gradually increased significantly (p<0.01 and p<0.05) in cattle. Conversely, the total leukocyte count (TLC) and eosinophil count. in differential leukocyte count (DLC) were decreased significantly (p<0.01 and p<0.05) in treated cattle. The alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level of serum were not significantly changed in the cattle. The present study reveal that water extracts of neem, barbados lilac and tobacco were moderately effective and pineapple, garlic, jute, turmeric and betel leaf were relatively less effective against mixed gastro-intestinal nematode infections in cattle.