Anthelmintic efficacy of ethanol extract of Areca catechu on the carbohydrate metabolism of Cotylophoron cotylophorum

Abstract

Paramphistomosis is an important parasitic disease in sheep and goats and causes considerable economic loss to the livestock industry. Anthelmintics are commonly used against helminth parasites. The high incidence of resistance of helminth parasites to anthelmintic drugs in addition to the relative toxicity and side effects of many of these drugs urge the necessity of finding alternative safe and eco friendly agents against helminths. This applies to plant-based anthelmintics that have been used to destroy and expell the parasite from gastrointestinal tract. In the present investigation ethanol extract of Areca catechu on the enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism viz. pyruvate kinase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, lactate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase, fumarate reductase and succinate dehydrogenase of Cotylophoron cotylophorum was studied. The parasites were incubated in five different sub-lethal concentrations of ethanol extract of Areca catechu viz. 0.005, 0.01, 0.05, 0.1 and 0.5mg/ml for 2, 4 and 8 h. The activity of the enzymes was assayed using standard procedures. The enzyme activity was expressed in terms of protein. The data obtained were analyzed statistically. Ethanol extract of Areca catechu significantly inhibited the enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism and the percentage of inhibition was dose and time dependent. Present study manifested that PK, PEPCK, LDH, MDH, FR and SDH provide biochemical target for AcEE which disrupt energy generation process in C. cotylophorum, resulting in decreased production of ATP. Consequently, the energy deprived parasite unable to sustain themselves in situ may be expelled from the host. The results of the present study holds a potential promise in the future use of active principles of A. catechu as effective anthelmintics and may help in designing assimilated solutions for the control of paramphistomosis.