title: Ovicidal and larvicidal activity of Cassia alata leaf acetone extract and fractions on Haemonchus contortus: in vitro studies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The failure of modern anthelmintics to control nematode parasites of sheep and goats is a reality on many farms in the tropical/subtropical regions of the world. This necessitates chemotherapeutic control alternatives and plant secondary metabolite with activity is one of those potential solutions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was design to evaluate the efficacy of solvent: solvent fractions of Cassia alata Gelenggang Besar (Leguminosae) leaf acetone extract against Heamonchus contortus Rudolphi (Trichostrongylidae).
  
  
  METHODS
  C. alata leaf was extracted with 70% acetone and fractions were obtained by solvent: solvent group separation procedures. The acetone extract and the fractions were tested by egg hatch assay (EHA) and larval development and viability assay to assess relative bioactivity against H. contortus eggs and larvae.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The extracts inhibited egg hatchability and killed infective larvae of H. contortus in a concentration-dependent manner. The best-fit LC(50) values were 0.562, 0.243, 0.490, 0.314, and 0.119 mg/mL for the acetone extract, chloroform, hexane, butanol and 35% water in methanol fractions, respectively, when tested against nematode eggs. The best-fit LC(50) values were 0.191, 0.505, 1.444, 0.306, and 0.040 mg/mL for acetone extract, chloroform, hexane, butanol and 35% water in methanol fractions, respectively, when tested against larvae. The 35% water in methanol fraction was the most active against the larvae and eggs of H. contortus demonstrating the lowest LC(50) values
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates that the leaf extracts of C. alata have anthelmintic activity; therefore it could find application in the control of helminths in livestock.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: I O
authors.initials: IO
authors.lastname: Ademola
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Eloff
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002366:Cassia / Q000737:chemistry; D006189:Haemonchus / Q000187:drug effects*; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects; D010063:Ovum / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D010936:Plant Extracts