Studies on medicinal plants against gastroinstestinal nematodes of goats

A detailed investigation was performed with the aim to find out the indigenous medicinal plants having anthelminthic action. Ten (10) indigenous medicinal plants were primarily selected and the ethanol extracts were prepared for anthelminthic trial and determination of anthelminthic properties in vitro and in vivo against the gastro-instestinal nematodes in goat during the period from July 2006 to December 2006. Screening of ethanol extracts of selected plants showed the anthelmintic activity against gastrointestinal nematodes at lower concentration (50 mg/ml). In vivo screening (by oral administration) of four plant extracts (ethanol) showed variable degree of efficacy in experimentally infected goats, as measured by faecal egg count reduction test. A relatively higher efficacy was recorded in ethanol extract of neem treated animals in comparison to other plants extracts. Ethanol extracts of korolla also showed significant efficacy. The results obtained in this study showed that ethanol extract of Labanga, Neem, Karolla and Pineapple at the dose of 100mg/kg showed a significant and potent antinematodal effect. These findings indicate that the adult gastrointestinal nematodes are more vulnerable to selected indigenous plants. Within these ten (10) plants 4 showed more than 70% efficacy at a concentration of 100mg/mkg. Key words: Medicinal plants, anthelmintics, nematodes, fecal egg count, goat doi: 10.3329/bjvm.v6i2.2333 Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2008). 6 (2): 179-183