Testing Of Plant Extracts For Anthelmintic Activities With Traditional And New Technologies

Summary

Plant extracts represent interesting alternatives to synthetic antiparasitic drugs against gastrointestinal helminths (“worms”). These have been used intensively over the last decades and antiparasitic resistance is increasing worldwide. In the present study three plant extracts (Malva sylvestris, Chamomilla recutita and Althaea officinalis) were assessed for their antiparasitic properties against gastrointestinal worms. A traditional microscopy method (larval development assay, LDA) and a molecular analysis (Droplet digital PCR, ddPCR) were performed using a laboratory strain of Haemonchus contortus (target organism). All three extracts had a certain antiparasitic effect up to 20 mg/ml concentration, but a stronger effect of M. sylvestris and A. officinalis than C. recutita was observed, even at lower concentrations. Correlation between both methods (LDA and ddPCR) was low (R2=0.39), but it will be investigated with further studies. The availability of molecular methods for the screening of alternative antiparasitic substances is relevant to the organic husbandry since it would provide a robust, standardized and objective tool to get access to effective alternatives to traditional antiparasitic drugs against gastrointestinal worms.