title: Anthelmintic activity of Cocos nucifera L. on intestinal nematodes of mice.
abstract: In this study, we evaluated the anthelmintic activity of the liquid extracted from the bark of the green coconut (LBGC), as well as butanol extract obtained from LBGC, on mouse intestinal nematodes. Thirty-six naturally infected mice were distributed into six groups receiving the following treatments: Group I: 1000 mg/kg of LBGC; Group II: 2000 mg/kg of LBGC; Group III: 500 mg/kg of butanol extract; Group IV: 1000 mg/kg of butanol extract; Group V: 0.56 mg/kg febendazole; and Group VI: 3% dimethylsulfoxide. The chemical composition of the LBGC and its butanol extract was determined by phytochemical tests. A dose of 1000 mg/kg of butanol extract had 90.70% efficacy in reducing the mouse worm burden (p<0.05). Phytochemical tests revealed the presence of triterpens, saponnins and condensed tannins in the LBGC and butanol extracts. These results suggest that Cocos nucifera extracts may be useful in the control of intestinal nematodes.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual do Ceará, Campus do Itaperi, CEP 60740-000, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. claudiamlb@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: C T C
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: C M L
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Bevilaqua
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Morais
authors.forename: A L F
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Camurça-Vasconcelos
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Maciel
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Braga
authors.forename: L M B
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Oliveira
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003059:Cocos; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007422:Intestines / Q000469:parasitology; D051379:Mice / Q000469:parasitology; D009348:Nematoda / Q000187:drug effects*; D009349:Nematode Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000662:veterinary; D024301:Plant Bark; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D010936:Plant Extracts