Phytochemical composition and in vitro anthelmintic activity of Erigeron floribundus (asteraceae) on three-stages of Haemonchus contortus of small ruminants

Abstract

Haemonchosis is a disease caused by the blood-sucking nematode Haemonchus contortus. The present study therefore aimed to analyse the phytochemical compounds present in Erigeron floribundus and evaluate the in vitro anthelmintic efficacy of its aqueous and ethanolic extracts on the parasite. Quantification of condensed tannins and flavonoids was carried out using a spectrophotometer with tannic acid and quercetin, respectively. The E. floribundus extracts were obtained by macerating the plant powder in distilled water and ethanol, respectively. The extracts were then filtered, concentrated in a rotary evaporator at 40 °C, and dried. The aqueous and ethanolic extracts were tested on adult female H. contortus, achieving an LC50 of 0.29 ± 0.02 mg/mL and 0.17 ± 0.04 mg/mL, respectively, after a 24-h incubation period. The aqueous and ethanolic extracts were tested on H. contortus L3 larvae after 24 and 48 h of incubation, achieving an LC50 of 1.49 ± 0.28 mg/mL and 0.92 ± 0.17 mg/mL, respectively. The respective inhibitory concentrations (IC50) for egg hatching were 22 ± 0.013 mg/mL and 0.021 ± 0.014 mg/mL for the aqueous and ethanolic extracts. Neither the aqueous nor the ethanolic extract of E. floribundus induced any signs of toxicity in mice at a dose of 3000 mg/kg. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of plant extracts against H. contortus and their potential as an alternative to synthetic anthelmintics. These in vitro results confirm the traditional medicinal use of E. floribundus.