Anthelmintic Efficacy of Vernonia amygdalina, Gongronema latifolium and Carica papaya Leaf Extracts In Hookworm-Infected Wister Rats in Idemili South, Anambra State.

Abstract

Helminth infections is a major health challenge globally, and there is increasing resistance to synthetic anthelmintic drugs which underscores an urgent need for safer plant-based alternative. This study evaluates the phytochemical composition, acute toxicity, anthelmintic efficacy, and effect on body weight following administration of ethanolic extractions of Vernonia amygdalina (bitter leaf), Gongronema latifolium (utazi), and Carica papaya (pawpaw) leaf extracts in wistar rats in Idemili South local government area, Anambra State. Hookworm infected rats were administered 300mg/kg and 500mg/kg doses of each extracts.The cold maceration method was used for the plant leaf extraction. The extraction yield were highest in C. papaya (19.90%), followed by V. amygdalina (15.60%), and G. latifolium (12.30%). Phytochemical screening showed that the leaf extract contained various bioactive compound including flavonoid, phenols, tannins, saponins and alkaloids. Acute toxicity profile revealed no mortality at doses up to 1000mg/kg, which indicate it relatively safe. Anthelmintic evaluation showed significant (p< 0.05) and dose-dependant in worm burden reduction with C. papaya at the dose of 500mg/kg showed 78.6% reduction, V. amygdalina at 500mg/kg (75.1%), and G. latifolium at 500mg/kg (70.8%). There were significant reduction in faecal egg count with C. papaya having the highest faecal egg count reduction (86.4%), V. amygdalina (84.4%), and G. latifolium (82.1%).The study demonstrated that V. amygdalina, G.latifolium and C. papaya possess significant anthelmintic efficacy with C. papaya leaf extract demonstrting the highest potential and this support their ethomedicinal uses as potential phytotherapeutic against hookworm infection.