Anthelmintic Activity of Methanolic and Petroleum Ether Leaf Extracts of Nami Dioscorea Hispida Dennst. Against the Emerging Parasitic Model Caenorhabditis Elegans

Date of Award

5-1-2023

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Biology

First Advisor

Kharleezelle J. Moendeg-Mamedes, PhD

Abstract

Among the most common neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) is worm infestation, which causes high morbidity rates. Although several anthelminthic drugs were released to the market, worms have developed multi-drug resistance through time. Hence, the identification of new anthelmintics is essential to sustainably control NTDs. Thus, the study evaluated the anthelminthic potential of extracts from the Nami Dioscorea hispida Dennst. leaves (MeOH and PETSF) against Caenorhabditis elegans [eggs, Larva 1- Larva 2 (L1-L2), and adult]. The efficacy of the concentrations (0.2, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, and 2.0 mg/mL) of the extracts were tested in vitro through egg hatch inhibition and larval and adult motility assays. In the egg assay, PETSF extract (at 2 mg/mL) with ~77% efficacy against C. elegans N2 strain was rendered effective compared to MeOH extract (2 mg/mL) with ~58 efficacy, respectively (p < 0.05). In the larval assay, both MeOH and PETSF (2 mg/mL) were rendered highly effective [~97% (MeOH) and 98 % (PETSF) efficacy) (p < 0.05)]. Similar to the larval assay, both MeOH and PETSF (2 mg/mL) were rendered highly effective [~83% (MeOH) and 82 % (PETSF) efficacy] against C. elegans N2 strain in the adult assay. The activity of both plant extracts was shown in a dose-dependent manner. The results showed higher efficacy of PETSF extract compared to MeOH extract, and this was proven by the lower Efficiency Concentration (EC5) values of PETSF [0.2304 mg/mL (egg), 0.06492 mg/mL (larva L1-L2), and 0.08024 mg/mL (adult)] compared to the EC50 values of [0.9125 mg/mL (egg), 0.2425 mg/mL (larva L1-L2), and 0.09156 mg/mL (adult)] exhibited by the MeOH extract against C. elegans N2 strain. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of phenolics, saponins, alkaloids, and triterpenes. Therefore, the insights from this study can potentially serve as a groundwork for developing new anthelminthic drugs against parasitic infections.

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