In vitro Anthelmintic Activity of Carica papaya Leaf and Seed Extracts on Ascarid Eggs

Abstract

This study was conducted to comparatively assess the In vitro anthelmintic activity of Carica papaya leaf and seed extracts on Ascarid (Ascaridia galli and Ascaris suum) eggs. Five concentrations of methanol and aqueous extracts of the plant parts (3.125 mg/ml, 6.25 mg/ml, 12.5 mg/ml, 25 mg/ml and 50mg/ml) were prepared and tested against embryo inhibition of the eggs of Ascaridia galli and Ascaris suum using albendazole as the positive control and 0.1% sulphoric acid solution as the negative control. Phytochemical investigation showed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, fixed oils and reducing sugars of glycosides present in all the crude extracts of Carica papaya. All the crude extracts prepared were able to inhibit embryo in eggs of Ascaris of pigs and poultry. The Interaction of Pawpaw leaf and seed extract at varying concentration on cumulative embryonation of eggs of Ascaridia galli and Ascaris suum in-vitro was highly significant (3.44+ 0.183; 3.95+ 0.154) values with aqueous seed extracts when compared with albendazole (4.24+  0.000; 3.95 + 0.000) P<0.05 while the  Interaction of Pawpaw leaf and seed extract at varying concentration on cumulative unembryonated egg of Ascaridia galli and Ascaris suum in-vitro also showed a high significant difference (19.69+ 0.052;19.54+ 0.053) P<0.05 when compared with albendazole (19.43+ 0.000; 19.54+ 0.000). Furthermore, there was no statistiscal difference (P>0.05) in the interaction of Pawpaw leaf and seed extract at varying concentration on unembryonated egg of Ascaris suumand Ascaridia galli in vitro as all activities on inhibition embryonation were same with increase in concentration from 3.125 mg/ml to 50 mg/ml. The outcome of the current study has provided a scientific justification for the preference of the seeds of Carica papaya for the treatment of helminth infections and has shown that the fixed oils present in the seeds could be responsible for such activity.