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In vitro anti-eimeriosis and anthelmintic activities for Achillea fragrantissima

[Atividades antieimeriose e anti-helmínticas in vitro da Achillea fragrantissima]

ABSTRACT

The effectiveness of many plants has been reported as anthelmintic and anticoccidial because they possess active compounds. Excessive use of drugs has led to the emergence of drug-resistant Eimeria species. This study was designed to evaluate anticoccidial and anthelmintic activity of Achillea fragrantissima flower extract (AFFE) and leaves extract (AFLE). Infrared spectroscopy showed nine phytochemical compounds. Chemical examination revealed AF rich in phenols, flavonoids, and tannins. Flower extract showed the highest percentage inhibition of DPPH radical at 500 µg/mL (82.2%) compared to leaves extract (74.5%). AFFE and AFLE (100 mg/ml) caused paralysis and earthworm death by 13.67±1.96 and 15.25±2.48 min and 4.19±0.05 and 4.70±0.28 min, respectively, compared to mebendazole. In histological study, a clear defect was found in surface architecture of treated groups of worms with extract. At 96 h, significant inhibition (100%) of process sporulation for E. papillata oocyst was observed when exposed to AFFE (300 and 200 mg/mL), while AFLE was 98.4 and 96%, respectively. Additionally, amprolium, DettolTM, phenol, and formalin 5% showed different levels of inhibition. Results revealed anticoccidial and anthelmintic activities of AFFE and AFLE, which encourages conducting many in vivo studies to find an effective and cheap treatment.

Keywords:
Achillea fragrantissima; extract; earthworms; sporulation

RESUMO

A eficácia de muitas plantas foi relatada como anti-helmíntica e anticoccidiana porque elas possuem compostos ativos. O uso excessivo de medicamentos levou ao surgimento de espécies de Eimeria resistentes a medicamentos. Esse estudo foi concebido para avaliar a atividade anticoccidiana e anti-helmíntica do extrato da flor de Achillea fragrantissima (AFFE) e do extrato das folhas (AFLE). A espectroscopia de infravermelho mostrou nove compostos fitoquímicos. O exame químico revelou que o AF é rico em fenóis, flavonoides e taninos. O extrato da flor mostrou a maior porcentagem de inibição do radical DPPH a 500 µg/mL (82,2%) em comparação com o extrato das folhas (74,5%). O AFFE e o AFLE (100mg/ml) causaram paralisia e morte das minhocas em 13,67±1,96 e 15,25±2,48 min e 4,19±0,05 e 4,70±0,28 min, respectivamente, em comparação com o mebendazol. No estudo histológico, foi encontrado um claro defeito na arquitetura da superfície dos grupos de vermes tratados com o extrato. Após 96 horas, foi observada uma inibição significativa (100%) do processo de esporulação do oocisto de E. papillata quando exposto ao AFFE (300 e 200mg/mL), enquanto o AFLE foi de 98,4 e 96%, respectivamente. Além disso, amprólio, DettolTM, fenol e formalina 5% apresentaram diferentes níveis de inibição. Os resultados revelaram atividades anticoccidianas e anti-helmínticas de AFFE e AFLE, o que incentiva a realização de muitos estudos in vivo para encontrar um tratamento eficaz e barato.

Palavras-chave:
Achillea fragrantissima; extrato; minhocas; esporulação

INTRODUCTION

Coccidiosis is one of the main parasitic diseases that infect several animals, and it leads to significant economic losses (Györke et al., 2013GYÖRKE, A.; POP, L.; COZMA, V. Prevalence and distribution of Eimeria species in broiler chicken farms of different capacities. Parasite, v.20, p.50, 2013.). The etiological agent of this illness, Eimeria spp., belongs to the genus Eimeria, family Eimeriidae, and phylum Apicomplexa (Mehlhorn, 2014MEHLHORN, H. Encyclopedic reference of parasitology. 4.ed. Berlin: Springer, 2014.). They are protozoan parasites that reproduce inside the enterocytes of the host, producing severe diarrhea, weight loss, and, in some cases, premature death. Eimeria infection can also help other opportunistic pathogens proliferate, worsening the animal's clinical condition (Quiroz-Castañeda and Dantán-González, 2015). The infectivity potential of oocysts is dependent upon the sporulation rate and oocyst wall structure for Eimeria spp. which provides a strong defense and resilience against chemical, mechanical, and physically damaging stimuli including anti-coccidia as well as other antimicrobial agents (Fatoba and Adeleke, 2018FATOBA, A.J.; ADELEKE, M.A. Diagnosis and control of chicken coccidiosis: a recent update. J. Parasit. Dis., v.42, p.483-493, 2018.). Therefore, to effectively control this parasite, it is essential to inhibit the sporulation process (Mai et al., 2009MAI, K.; SHARMAN, P.A.; WALKER, R.A. et al. Oocyst wall formation and composition in coccidian parasites. Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz, v.104, p. 281-289, 2009.).

Anticoccidial medications are used in prevention and treatment of the disease (Abbas et al., 2011ABBAS, R.Z.; IQBAL, Z.; BLAKE, D.; KHAN M.N.; SALEEMI, M.K. Anticoccidial drug resistance in fowl coccidia: the state of play revisited. World's Poult. Sci.J., v.67: p.337-350, 2011.). Concerns have been reported about therapies due to the emergence of bacterial and coccidial resistance because of their widespread use, feed contamination, and poorly elucidated interactions with other drugs (Abu Hawsah et al., 2023). Therefore, developing new drugs from medicinal plants is a potentially sustainable alternative because they have anti-parasitic properties and anti-bacterial (Cobaxin-Cardenas, 2018), as well as a rich source of bioactive phytochemicals that have been used in traditional medicine for centuries, also, many of which have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant functions (Shahat et al., 2013SHAHAT, A.A.; ALSAID, M.S.; ALYAHYA, M.A.; HIGGINS, M.; DINKOVA-KOSTOVA, A.T. NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 inducer activity of some Saudi Arabian medicinal plants. Plant. Med., v.79, p.459-464, 2013.).

One of the most well-known genera in the Asteraceae family, Achillea plant, contains more than 115 species (Saeidnia et al., 2015SAEIDNIA, S.; YASSA, N.; REZAEIPOOR, R. et al. Immunosuppressive principles from Achillea talagonica, an endemic species of Iran. DARU J. Pharm. Sci., v.17, p.37-41, 2015.). Achillea fragrantissima is the most well-known species within Asteraceae. It is found in Saudi Arabia and known locally as Qaysūm (Arabic) (Barel et al., 1991BAREL, S.; SEGAL, R.; YASHPHE, J. The antimicrobial activity of the essential oil from Achillea fragrantissima. J. Ethnopharmacol., v.33, p.187-191, 1991.; Al-Qarawi et al., 1996). The plant is used in traditional medicine to treat many ailments such as respiratory diseases, digestive problems (Saeidnia et al., 2015), as well as high blood pressure, skin diseases, stomach aches, and diabetes (Shabana et al., 1990SHABANA, M.M.; MIRHOM, Y.W.; GENENAH, A.A.; ABOUTABL, E.A.; AMER, H.A. Study into wild Egyptian plants of potential medicinal activity. Ninth communication: Hypoglycemic activity of some selected plants in normal fasting and alloxanized rats. Arch. Exp. Vet., v.44, p.389-394, 1990.; Hamdan and Afifi, 2004HAMDAN, I.I.; AFIFI, F.U. Studies on the in vitro and in vivo hypoglycemic activities of some medicinal plants used in treatment of diabetes in Jordanian traditional medicine. J. Ethnopharmacol., v.93, p.117-121, 2004.).

Achillea fragrantissima contains highly bio-logically active ingredients, including flavonoids, lignans, alkamides, and terpenic lactones (achillolid A) (Tarawneh et al., 2010TARAWNEH, K.; IRSHAID, F.; JARAN, A.; EZEALARAB, M.; KHLEIFAT, K. Evaluation of antibacterial and antioxidant activities of methanolic extracts of some medicinal plants in northern part of Jordan. J. Biol. Sci., v.10, p.325-332, 2010.; Patocka and Navratilova, 2019PATOCKA, J.; NAVRATILOVA, Z. Achillea fragrantissima: pharmacology review. Clin. Oncol., v.4, p.1601, 2019.), tannins (El-Ashmawy et al., 2016). Recent studies showed that A. fragrantissima extracts have anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative capacities and antioxidants (Al-Mustafa and Al-Thunibat, 2008; Elmann et al., 2011ELMANN, A.; MORDECHAY, S.; ERLANK, H. et al. Anti-neuroinflammatory effects of the extract of Achillea fragrantissima. BMC Compl. Altern. Med., v.11, p.98, 2011.; Akbar et al., 2023AKBAR, A., GUL, Z., CHEIN, S.H., SADIQ, M.B. Investigation of anti-inflammatory properties, phytochemical constituents, antioxidant, and antimicrobial potentials of the whole plant ethanolic extract of Achillea santolinoides subsp. Wilhelmsii (K. Koch) greuter of balochistan. Oxidative Med. Cell. Long., v.2023, p.1-12, 2023.). Also, the plant has anthelmintic and carminative activity (Aboutable et al., 1986ABOUTABLE, E.A.; SOLIMAN, F.M.; EL-ZALANI, S.M.; BRUNKE, E.J.; EL-KERSH, T.A. Essential oil of Achillea fragrantissima (Forssk.). sch. bip. Egypt. J. Pharm. Sci., v.27, p.215-219, 1986.; Sincich, 2002SINCICH, F. Bedouin traditional medicine in the Syrian Steppe. Rome: FAO, 2002. p.114-115.), antiviral (Soltan and Zaki, 2009SOLTAN, M.M.; ZAKI, A.K. Antiviral screening of forty-two Egyptian medicinal plants. J. Ethnopharm., v.126, p.102-107, 2009.), antimicrobial and anticancer (Alshuail et al., 2022ALSHUAIL, N.; ALEHAIDEB, Z.; ALGHAMDI, S. et al. Achillea fragrantissima (Forssk.) sch.bip flower dichloromethane extract exerts anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic properties in human triple-negative breast cancer (MDA-MB-231) cells: In Vitro and In Silico Studies. Pharmaceuticals, v.15, p.1060, 2022.; Break et al., 2022BREAK, M.K.B.; YOUNES, K.M.; ELKAHOUI, S. et al. Achillea fragrantissima (Forssk.) Sch. Bip. methanolic extract exerts potent antimicrobial activity and causes cancer cell death via induction of caspase-dependent apoptosis and S-phase arrest. Nat. Prod. Res., v.36, p.4645-4650, 2022.), and antifungal (Alsohaili, 2018ALSOHAILI, S. Seasonal variation in the chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of essential oil extracted from Achillea fragrantissima grown in Northern-Eastern Jordanian desert. J. Essent. Oil Plant., v.21, p.139-145, 2018.). Additionally, studies showed its antiparasitic activity such as Trypanosoma evansi (El-Ashmawy et al., 2016), Leishmania infantum (Ayrom et al., 2021AYROM, F.; RASOULI, S.; SHEMSHADI, B. In Vitro antileishmanial activity of Achillea santolina essential oil against Leishmania infantum promastigote by Methylthiazole Tetrazolium (MTT) and trypan blue colorimetric methods. Arch. Razi Inst., v.76, p.529-536, 2021.), and Blastocystis (Mokhtar et al., 2019MOKHTAR, A.B.; AHMED, S.A.; ELTAMANY, E.E.; KARANIS, P. Anti-blastocystis activity in vitro of Egyptian herbal extracts (family: Asteraceae) with emphasis on Artemisia Judaica. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, v.16, p.1555, 2019.).

This study aimed (in vitro) to investigate the protective effect of A. fragrantissima flowers extract (AFFE) and leaves extract (AFLE) against oocyst sporulation (Eimeria papillata), also, to its anthelmintic activity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Leaves and flowers of Achillea fragrantissima were collected from Tabuk (Saudi Arabia), and a taxonomist at the Department of Botany, King Saud University, confirmed the botanical identity of the plant. According to the method of Dkhil (2013DKHIL, M.A. Anti-coccidial, anthelmintic and antioxidant activities of pomegranate (Punica granatum) peel extract. Parasitol. Res., v.112, p.2639-2646, 2013.), 200g of leaves and 200g of flowers were air-dried at 40 °C, powdered, and then extracted with 70% methanol for 24 hr at 4°C. Resulting extract was concentrated and dried in a rotary vacuum evaporator (Yamato RE300, Japan). Distilled H2O was used to dissolve powder to perform various experiments.

Plant (leaves or flowers) extract was analyzed using the KBr pellet method on a NICOLET 6700 (Thermo Scientific, Waltham, USA) FT-IR spectrometer with a range of 400-4000 cm-1 (Abu Hawsah et al., 2023).

The phenolic contents of AFFE and AFLE were determined using the technique of Singleton et al. (1999SINGLETON, V.L.; ORTHOFER, R.; LAMUELA-RAVENTÓS, R.M. Analysis of total phenols and other oxidation substrates and antioxidants by means of Folin-Ciocalteu reagent. Methods Enzymol., v.299, p.152-178, 1999.), with some modifications. Briefly, 0.1mL of Folin-Ciocalteu reagent, 1.5mL of ultrapure water (Milli-Q), and 0.1mL of plant (flower or leaves) extract (1mg/mL) or gallic acid were mixed and left for 8 min, then, 0.3 mL of sodium carbonate solution (20%) was added and mixed by a vortex. Mixture was incubated in dark for 2 hr. A UV-visible spectrophotometer was used to measure the absorbance at 765 nm. Phenolics were calculated as gallic acid equivalent (mg/g DW).

The total flavonoids in AFFE and AFLE were determined using a method reported by Ordoñez et al. (2006ORDOÑEZ, A.A.L.; GOMEZ, J.D.; VATTUONE, M.A.; LSLA, M.I. Antioxidant activities of Sechium edule (Jacq.) Swartz extracts. Food Chem., v.97, p.452-458, 2006.). Briefly, 1.0mL of 2% AlCl3 water solution was mixed with 1.0mL of flower extract or leaf extract (1mg/mL). At 420 nm, absorbance was measured following an hour of incubation at room temperature. Flavonoids were expressed as quercetin (mg/g DW).

The total tannins in AFFE and AFLE were determined according to the method of Kavitha Chandran and Indira (2016).

According to Liyana-Pathirana and Shahidi (2005), the antioxidant activities of AFFE and AFLE were determined by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay. Briefly, 1mL of the extract was mixed with 1mL of 0.135mM DPPH at various concentrations (31.25-1000g/mL). Absorbance of the samples and the control solutions was measured at 517nm.

By oral gavage, 1×103 sporulated Eimeria papillata oocysts were administered to five laboratory mice Mus musculus. Feces were collected on the fifth day after infection, and oocysts were subsequently isolated using the flotation technique and used for an in vitro study.

Unsporulated oocysts (1×105) were incubated in all the groups and included: negative control group (5 mL of dist. H2O), positive control group (5 mL of 2.5% potassium dichromate K2Cr2O7), and the treatment groups (5 mL of 2.5% K2Cr2O7) containing one of the following: AFFE (300, 200, 100 and 50mg/mL), AFLE (300, 200, 100 and 50mg/mL), Amprolium (8.3mg) (Veterinary Agriculture Products Company [VAPCO], Jordan), DettolTM (109µL), phenol (25µL), and formalin (5%). Sporocysts were examined, and sporulation of the oocysts was tracked using an Olympus compound microscope (Olympus Co., Tokyo, Japan). For each treatment, we used three replicates, and all Petri dishes were incubated at 25 to 29°C for 72 and 96 hr (Gadelhaq et al., 2018GADELHAQ, S.M.; ARAFA, W.M.; ABOLHADID, S.M. In vitro activity of natural and chemical products on sporulation of Eimeria species oocysts of chickens. Vet. Parasitol., v.251, p.12-16, 2018.). The sporulation percentage was calculated according to Daiba et al. (2022DAIBA, A.R; KAGIRA, J.M.; NGOTHO, M.; KIMOTHO, J.; MAINA, N. In vitro anticoccidial activity of nanoencapsulated bromelain against Eimeria spp. oocysts isolated from goats in Kenya. Vet. World, v.15, p.397-402, 2022.), and sporulation inhibition percentage was according to Cedric et al. (2018CEDRIC, Y.; PAYNE, V.K.; NADIA, N.A.C. et al. In vitro anticoccidial, antioxidant activities and cytotoxicity of Psidium guajava extracts. Res. J. Parasitol., v.13, p.1-13, 2018.).

Adult earthworms, Eisenia fetida, were used to evaluate in vitro anthelmintic activity. Extract from AFFE and AFLE were prepared in dist. H2O at concentrations of 100, 50, and 25mg/mL. Five worms of approximately the same size were placed in Petri dishes. Each petri dish contained 20 mL of test solution of extract. Mebendazole (10 mg/ml) was used as a positive control, and dist. H2O was used as a negative control. The experiments were run in triplicate. Time for paralysis was recorded when no movement was observed except when shaken vigorously, while the time of death was recorded when the worms did not show any movement by vigorous shaking nor when dipped in warm water (50°C) (Parida et al., 2010PARIDA, S.; PATRO, V.J.; MISHRA, U.S.; MOHAPATRA, L.; SANNIGRAHI, S. Anthelmintic potentials of crude extracts and its various fractions of different parts of Pterospermum Acerifolium Linn. Inter. J. Pharm. Sci. Rev. Res., v.1, p.107-111, 2010.).

Small parts of the E. fetida were taken and fixed in 10% buffered neutral formalin and processed for paraffin sections. Thin sections (4 μm) cut by means of a rotatory microtome were rehydrated and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) (Drury and Wallington, 1980DRURY, R.A.B.; WALLINGTON, E.A. Carleton’s histological technique. 5.ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1980.). Light microscopy (Olympus BX61, Tokyo, Japan) was used to examine sections and photographed using a digital camera (DP 73) fitted on the microscope.

The data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) in SigmaPlot® version 11.0 (Systat Software, Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). At a p-value ≤ 0.05, differences between groups were deemed significant.

RESULTS

Analysis of AFFE using FT-IR showed major bands at 3417.82cm-1, 2931.01cm-1, 1739.16cm-1, 1621.41cm-1, 1514.11cm-1, 1384.04cm-1, 1255.48cm-1, 1076.71cm-1, and 571.82cm-1 (Figure 1 and Table 1). The O-H stretching was indicated by the band at 3417.82cm-1 confirming the presence of alcohol. The band at 2931.01 cm-1 implied C-H stretching for the presence of alkane. C=O stretching at 1739.16 cm-1 confirms the presence of esters. The band at 1621.41cm-1 corresponds to C=C stretching for the presence of α,β-unsaturated ketone. N-O bending at the band 1514.11cm-1 confirmed the presence of nitro compound. The band of 1384.04 cm-1 (C-H bending), 1255.48 cm-1 (C-O stretching), 1076.71cm-1 (C-O stretching), and 571.82cm-1 (C-Br stretching) assigned to an alkane, alkyl aryl ether, primary alcohol, and halo compound, respectively (Table 1).

Figure 1
FT-IR of AFFE in a methanolic medium showing the functional characteristic of the material.

Table 1
FT-IR for A. fragarntissima flowers extract (AFFE)

The analysis of AFLE using FT-IR showed major bands at 3420.84cm-1, 2928.06cm-1, 1740.88cm-1, 1624.27cm-1, 1514.09 cm-1, 1383.91cm-1, 1255.78cm-1, 1051.98cm-1, and 572.27cm-1 (Figure 2 and Table 2). O-H stretching was indicated by the band at 3420.84cm-1 confirming the presence of alcohol. The band at 2928.06 cm-1 implied C-H stretching for presence of alkane. C=O stretching at 1740.88 cm-1 confirms the presence of esters. The band at 1624.27cm-1 corresponds to C=C stretching for the presence of conjugated alkene. N-O bending at the band 1514.09cm-1 confirmed the presence of nitro compound. The band of 1383.91 cm-1 (C-H bending), 1255.78cm-1 (C-O stretching), 1051.98 cm-1 (C-O stretching), and 571.82cm-1 (C-Br stretching) assigned to alkane, alkyl aryl ether, primary alcohol, and halo compound, respectively (Table 2).

Figure 2
FT-IR of AFLE in a methanolic medium showing the functional characteristic of the material.

Table 2
FT-IR for A. fragarntissima leaves extract (AFLE)

The contents of some secondary metabolites, like phenolics, flavonoids, and tannins in AFFE and AFLE, were determined. Amounts of phenols in flower extract (127.3±0.66) were less than in leaves extract 148.51 ± 0.66 (Figure 3). Also, the methanolic extract of the flowers showed higher values for flavonoids compared to leaves extract 43.42±0.21 and 24.87±0.12, respectively (Figure 3). In addition, the number of tannins in AFFE was 55.6±3.4 (mg TAE/g DW), while in AFLE it was 44.7±11.4 (mg TAE/g DW) (Figure 3).

The antioxidant activities of AFFE and AFLE were determined using free radical scavenging activity by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method. Overall, the scavenging activity against the DPPH radical increased with concentration increases in extracts, peaking at 500 g/mL, and after that started to decline (Table 3). The results indicated that AFFE showed the highest percentage inhibition value of DPPH radical at 500 µg/mL (83.95%) compared to the leaves extract (82.2%) (Table 3).

Figure 3
The concentration of phenolics (mg GAE/g DW), flavonoids (mg QE/g DW), and tannins (mg TAE/g DW) in AFFE and AFLE

Table 3
Radical scavenging activity (%) of flower extract (AFFE) and leaves extract (AFLE) for the A. fragrantissima plant

AFFE, AFLE, and some materials in vitro were assessed on process of the sporulation for E. papillata oocyst and identified sporulation of oocyst (%) and inhibition of sporulation (%) at different intervals of 72 and 96 hr. Considerable level of oocysts sporulation (%) in dist. H2O was observed to be 79.78% at 96 hr. At 96 hr, AFFE showed a high level of inhibition of sporulation (100%, 100%, 98.4%, 92.2%) at concentrations of 300, 200, 100, and 50 mg/mL, respectively, compared to AFLE, was 98.4%, 96.3%, 94.1% and 67.04%, respectively (Table 4). While, amprolium, DettolTM, phenol, and formalin 5% showed different inhibition of sporulation at 96 hr which were 37.33%, 81.33, 89.33, and 100%, respectively (Table 4).

Both AFFE and AFLE were observed to have anthelmintic activity against E. fetida. Where the most effective dose, AFFE (100 mg/mL) showed the time to paralysis and death was 13.67±1.96 and 15.25±2.48 min, respectively, while AFLE (100mg/mL) showed the time to paralysis and death was 4.19±0.05 and 4.70±0.28 min, respectively. Mebendazole showed 13.91±0.37 and 18.20±0.98 min for paralysis and death time, respectively) (Table 5). There are no changes in the uppermost layer of the cuticle for worms in the control group, while reduction in the segment length for worms in plant extracts as well as complete destruction of the upper layer with drug treatment (Figure 4).

Table 4
In vitro, anti-coccidial effects of Achillea fragarntissima flowers (AFFE) and leaves (AFLE) extract on the sporulation percentage of Eimeria papillata oocysts

Table 5
In vitro anthelmintic activity of AFFE and AFLE

Figure 4
Changes in the cuticle of E. fetida with various treatments. (A) worms in dist. H2O (control). (B) worms in AFLE (100 mg/ml). (C) worms in AFEE (100 mg/ml). (D) worms in mebendazole. Scale bar = 25µm

DISCUSSION

Eimeria species cause severe infections in animals (coccidiosis), especially in chickens and cattle (Morgoglione et al., 2020MORGOGLIONE, M.E.; BOSCO, A.; MAURELLI, M.P. et al. A 10-year surveillance of eimeria spp. in cattle and buffaloes in a Mediterranean Area. Front. Vet. Sci., v.7, p.410, 2020.). Anticoccidial medications when overused resulted in the development of drug resistance as well as the buildup of their byproducts in tissues and organs (Elmahallawy et al., 2021ELMAHALLAWY, E.K.; FEHAID, A.; EL-SHEWEHY, D.M.M. et al. S-methylcysteine ameliorates the intestinal damage induced by Eimeria tenella infection via targeting oxidative stress and inflammatory modulators. Front. Vet. Sci., v.8, p.754991, 2021.; Jamil et al., 2022JAMIL, M.; ALEEM, M.T.; SHAUKAT, A. et al. Medicinal plants as an alternative to control poultry parasitic diseases. Life, v.12, p.449, 2022.). The development of treatment resistance in various harmful parasites and microbes results in enormous economic losses because there are few effective drugs available and the cost is high (Jamil et al., 2022). This will impose discovery of novel drug sources to overcome therapeutic failure. Medicinal herbs, Due to their well-known antibacterial and antiparasitic character-istics, they can be a successful treatment for infections (Cobaxin-Cardenas, 2018). Natural herbs' therapeutic value rests on their bioactive components, which come from crude plants (Jamil et al., 2022). The aim of this study (in vitro) was to investigate the protective effect of different concentrations of AFFE and AFLE against oocyst sporulation (Eimeria papillata), as well as its anthelminthic activity.

Our results, different concentrations of AFFE and AFLE showed high anthelmintic activity against earthworms in comparison to mebend-azole, which agreed with result Aboutable et al. (1986ABOUTABLE, E.A.; SOLIMAN, F.M.; EL-ZALANI, S.M.; BRUNKE, E.J.; EL-KERSH, T.A. Essential oil of Achillea fragrantissima (Forssk.). sch. bip. Egypt. J. Pharm. Sci., v.27, p.215-219, 1986.) and Sincich (2002SINCICH, F. Bedouin traditional medicine in the Syrian Steppe. Rome: FAO, 2002. p.114-115.), which is attributed to the presence of many active phytochemical components. According to prior studies, Khaled et al. (2010KHALED, A.T.; FAWZI, I.; ADNAN, S.J.; MAGDA, E.; KHALED, M.K. Evaluation of antibacterial and antioxidant activities of methanolic extracts of some medicinal plants in northern part of Jordan. J. Biol. Sci., v.10, p.325-332, 2010.), Elmann et al. (2011ELMANN, A.; MORDECHAY, S.; ERLANK, H. et al. Anti-neuroinflammatory effects of the extract of Achillea fragrantissima. BMC Compl. Altern. Med., v.11, p.98, 2011.), and El-Ashmawy et al. (2016), the quantitative phytochemical analysis of the methanolic extract of A. fragrantissima was revealed a high number of flavonoids, polyphenols, and tannins, which agreed with our findings. Flavonoids clearly have a part in illness prevention, whether directly or indirectly. Ferreira et al. (2010FERREIRA, J.F.S.; LUTHRIA, D.L.; SASAKI, T. et al. Flavonoids from Artemisia annua L. as antioxidants and their potential synergism with artemisinin against malaria and cancer. Molecules, v.15, p.3135-3170, 2010.) showed that flavonoids have an impact on cancer, cardiovascular disease, and parasitic diseases like malaria. Tariq et al. (2008TARIQ, K.A.; CHISHTI, M.Z.; AHMAD, F.; SHAWL, A.S. Anthelmintic efficacy of Achillea millifolium against gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep: in vitro and in vivo studies. J. Helminthol., v.82, p.227-233, 2008.) reported that extract of Achillea millifolium showed anthelminthic activity as it inhibited the movement and led to death of Haemonchus contortus worm, which infect the gastrointestinal tract of sheep. Also, the extract of A. wilhelmsii showed anthelminthic activity against Pheretima posthuma and Raillietina spiralis, due to plant's containment of crude saponins (Ali et al., 2011ALI, N.; SHAH, S.W.; SHAH, I. et al. Cytotoxic and anthelmintic potential of crude saponins isolated from Achillea Wilhelmsii C. Koch and Teucrium Stocksianum boiss. BMC Compl. Altern. Med., v.11, p.106, 2011.). In addition, the extract of A. millefolium L. (flowers) showed nematicidal activity against S. papillosus larvae (Buza et al., 2020BUZA, V.; CĂTANĂ, L.; ANDREI, S.M. et al. In vitro anthelmintic activity assessment of six medicinal plant aqueous extracts against donkey strongyles. J. Helminthol., v.94, p.e147, 2020.). In a related study, A. fragrantissima showed the acaricidal efficacy against the common camel tick Hyalomma dromederi in Saudi Arabia (Al-Harbi et al., 2015). Also, the essential oil of the plant showed considerable acaricidal activity against Tyro-phagus putrescentiae (Al-Assiuty et al., 2019). Moreover, A. fragrantissima possesses anti-trypanosomiasis activity, due to the fact that the plant is rich in flavonoids and tannins (El-Ashmawy et al., 2016).

In addition, our results showed that AFFE and AFLE had a significant effect on the sporulation for E. papillata oocysts with dose dependence. Likewise, the methanolic extract for A. fragrantissima led significantly inhibited the growth of Blastocystis in vitro, and changes in Blastocystis shape under the influence of the extract were observed, with complete demolition of Blastocystis forms (after 72 hr) (Mokhtar et al., 2019MOKHTAR, A.B.; AHMED, S.A.; ELTAMANY, E.E.; KARANIS, P. Anti-blastocystis activity in vitro of Egyptian herbal extracts (family: Asteraceae) with emphasis on Artemisia Judaica. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, v.16, p.1555, 2019.). At least in part, the observed activity of A. fragrantissima extract against sporulation process of oocyst E. papillata can be explained by presence of several bioactive phytochemical components. In contrast, Dettol and phenol had few effects on oocyst sporulation, and these findings could be attributed to the oocyte wall's impermeability to water-soluble substances and its resistance to proteolysis (Kuticic and Wikerhauser, 1996KUTICIC, V.; WIKERHAUSER, T. Studies of the effect of various treatments on the viability of Toxoplasma gondii tissue cysts and oocysts. In: GROSS, U. (Ed.). Toxoplasma gondii. Berlin: Springer, 1996.; Mai et al., 2009MAI, K.; SHARMAN, P.A.; WALKER, R.A. et al. Oocyst wall formation and composition in coccidian parasites. Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz, v.104, p. 281-289, 2009.; Abu Hawsah et al., 2023). Hazardous chemical formalin (5%) completely prevented sporulation process. Previous studies showed that different concentrations of formalin (2% and 10%) influence sporulation process (Chroustová and Pinka, 1987CHROUSTOVÁ, E.; PINKA, K. The efficiency of disinfectants on the oocysts of Eimeria tenella. Acta Vet. Brno, v.56, p.141-149, 1987.; Gadelhaq et al., 2018GADELHAQ, S.M.; ARAFA, W.M.; ABOLHADID, S.M. In vitro activity of natural and chemical products on sporulation of Eimeria species oocysts of chickens. Vet. Parasitol., v.251, p.12-16, 2018.; Thagfan et al., 2020THAGFAN, F.A.; AL-MEGRIN, W.A.; AL-QURAISHY, S.; DKHIL, M.A.M. Mulberry extract as an ecofriendly anticoccidial agent: in vitro and in vivo application. Rev. Bras. Parasitol. Vet., v.29, p.e009820, 2020.).

CONCLUSION

It could be concluded that AFFE and AFLE have anticoccidial and anthelmintic efficacy, in vitro. Further studies should be recommended to include in vivo effectiveness of AF.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This study was supported by the Researchers Supporting Project (RSP2023R3), King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

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Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    13 Nov 2023
  • Date of issue
    Nov-Dec 2023

History

  • Received
    27 Mar 2023
  • Accepted
    27 Apr 2023
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