Background:

The utilization of edible biomass of Dichrostachys cinerea is an option for ruminant nutrition and the control of parasitosis in these animals.

Aim.

To evaluate in vitro anthelmintic activity of aqueous extracts from re-shoots and leaves of adult leguminous plants.

Methods:

Three mother solutions were made from the plant material collected. Then the aqueous extracts were prepared by means of infusion, decoction, and crushing. They were 10% diluted for infusion and decoction, and 10, 15, and 20% for crushing, resulting in 15 treatments. A total of four (two positive and two negative) controls were included. Soil worm was used as a biological model. A Petri dish was used in every treatment, and filled with 10 ml of the extract and six worms each. Time was measured (min) for occurrence of paralysis, and death of worms.

Results:

The anthelmintic effect of infusion and 10% decoction showed no significant differences in the times of death of worms. The preparation of extracts by crushing contributed to a larger extraction of secondary metabolites, which are responsible for the anthelmintic activity demonstrated in this study.

Conclusions:

All the extracts showed in vitro anthelmintic activity. The aqueous extract collected by crushing, and 20% dilution was the most effective of the three plant materials studied.