IN VIVO TESTING OF THE EFFECTS OF MEDICINAL PLANTS ON ALBINO RATS EXPERIMENTALLY INFECTED WITH INTESTINAL PARASITES

Jacinta C. Elo – Ilo, Immaculata O. Uduchi, Cajetan E. Ilo and Ifeanyi O. C. Obiajuru*

ABSTRACT

Anti – Parasitic effects of selected plant extracts: (Napleonaea imperalis, Sida acuta and Vernonia amygdalina) on Wista rats (Rattus albus) experimentally infected with human intestinal parasites was studied. The aim was to determine the anti-parasitic effects of the plant extracts on Rattus albus experimentally infected with human intestinal parasites. Two hundred and thirty (230) male and female patients presenting with symptoms of gastroenteritis and abdominal discomfort at GOPD, Imo State University Teaching Hospital (IMSUTH), Orlu were selected for the study. Stool samples were collected from the patients and examined for intestinal parasites, using stool concentration techniques and direct wet mount. The Harada-Mori cultural method was used to isolate and differentiate between hookworm species, Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale. The most prevalent intestinal parasite in Orlu was Necator americanus (23.90%) while the least prevalent was Hymenolepsis nana (1.74%). Statistical analysis of the data using Chi square showed significant difference (p < 0.05) in the prevalence of infection between different age groups of patients. The isolates were inoculated on healthy, uninfected Rattus albus. A total of 672 laboratory animals were used for the study. Eight weeks after, the infected Rattus albus were treated with 3 selected plant extracts: Vernonia amygdalina, Sida acuta and Napoleonae imperialis and observed for 3 weeks. The results showed that Rattus albus were successfully infected with different human intestinal parasites. This study has shown that Napoleonae imperialis, Sida acuta and Vernonia amygdalina extracts exhibit anti – parasitic effects on human intestinal parasites at low concentrations.

Keywords: Medicinal - Plants Albino Rats Infected Intestinal Parasites.