Volume 226, 15 August 2016, Pages 65–68
Short communication
- a Departamento de Física e Química, FEIS, Universidade Estadual Paulista, CEP 15385-000, SP, Brazil
- b Departamento de Biologia e Zootecnia, FEIS, Universidade Estadual Paulista, CEP 15385-000, SP, Brazil
- c Núcleo de Pesquisa em Ciências Exatas e Tecnológicas, Universidade de Franca, CEP 14404-600, SP, Brazil
- Received 20 October 2015, Revised 22 June 2016, Accepted 23 June 2016, Available online 24 June 2016
Highlights
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- We examined the in vitro anthelmintic effects of Opuntia ficus indica.
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- The anthelmintic activity was evaluated by EHA, LDA and LMI assays.
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- This plant possesses a significant in vitro anthelmintic activity.
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- The aqueous fractions containing tannins and saponins were the most active.
Abstract
This study describes the in vitro anthelmintic activity of extracts from Opuntia ficus indica
against gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep. The anthelmintic activity
was evaluated by inhibition of egg hatching, larval development and
larval migration assays. The residual aqueous fractions from cladodes
and fruits showed higher ovicidal activity with EC50 values
of 7.2 mg/mL and 1.5 mg/mL, respectively. The aqueous, hexane, and ethyl
acetate fractions from fruits and the aqueous fraction from cladodes
inhibited 100% of larval development at the lowest concentration tested
(1.56 mg/mL). The crude cladode and fruit ethanolic extracts inhibited
larval migration and showed EC50 values of 0.74 mg/mL and
0.27 mg/mL, respectively. Phytochemical screening detected high
concentrations of alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, and saponins in the
fruits and cladodes. The results demonstrated that O. ficus exhibits anthelmintic activity in vitro, suggesting that, beyond its nutritional potential, this plant can also be an ally for parasite control in sheep.
Graphical abstract
Keywords
- Cactus forage;
- Phytotherapy;
- Anthelmintic activity
© 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
