Anti-Helminthic Properties of Some Nigerian Medicinal Plants on Selected Intestinal Worms in Children (Age 5-13) in Ogurugu, South East Nigeria

Abstract

Helminths parasites activity in children in Nigerian rural areas had caused a lot of deficiencies in the children from social to general well being of the body. The aim of this study is to investigate the anti-helminthic activity of Allium sativum, Zingiber officinale, Cucurbita mexicana, Annona senegalensis, Ficus religiosa, Artemisia brevifolia, Calotropis procera, Pycnanthus angolensis , Nicotiana tabacum and Vernonia amygdalina on these worms: Ascaris lumbricoides, Strongyloides stercularis, Giardia intestinalis, Ancylostoma duodenale, Entamoeba histolystica, Enterobis vermicularis, Taenia saginata, Trichinella spp., Necator americanus and Diphyllobothrium latum. Aqueous (water) and ethanol extracts of leaves, stem bark and roots of the plants of concentration 20, 25, 50 and 100 mg/ml were used to test the worms for plant potency while piperazine citrate was used as control. Paralysis time and death were determined within 4 hours in the petri dish while unrestrained movements by the worms before and after extracts administration were recorded on a slow moving kymograph drum using the organ bath method. Time of paralysis and time of death were significantly reduced at all concentrations compared to the vehicle treated group (P ≤ 0.05). The study showed that the extracts exhibited anti-helminthic activities on the intestinal worms, and can be used as an oral medication for these worms infestation in children.