Screening of Echinops ellenbeckii and Echinops longisetus for biological activities and chemical constituents.

Members of the genus Echinops in the family of Asteraceae are widely used in Ethiopian herbal medicine for the treatment of various diseases and illness such as migraine, diarrhea, heart pain, different forms of infections, intestinal worm infestation and hemorrhoid. Hydroalcoholic extracts of the root, flower head, leaf and stem of Echinops ellenbeckii O. Hoffm. and Echinops longisetus A. Rich were investigated for their chemical constituents and biological activities. The presence of alkaloids, saponins, phytosterols, polyphenols and carotenoids in the different parts of the plants was observed whilst anthraquinones were not detected. The leaf extracts of both plants and stem extract of E. longisetus showed strong inhibitory activity against cultures of Staphylococcus aureus. None of the extracts were found to be active against Gram-positive organisms. The flower extract of E. ellenbeckii showed strong inhibitory activity against Candida albicans. Root and flower extracts of the plants investigated showed lethal activity against earthworms. Moreover, the extracts of the roots of both plants showed molluscicidal activity against schistosome-transmitting snail hosts. The biological activities observed were dose dependent.

Control of Biomphalaria pfeifferi population and schistosomiasis transmission in Ethiopia using the soap berry endod (Phytolacca dodecandra), with special emphasis on application methods.

The endod (Phytolacca dodecandra)-based schistosomiasis mansoni control project was implemented in Ethiopia between 1994 and 1999. The aim was to develop an effective, cheap and sustainable method of controlling schistosomiasis. First, different formulations of the Ethiopian endod strain 44 (E-44) were compared for potency in the laboratory. Secondly, spray and drip-feeding methods were compared for simplicity and effectiveness in the field. Lastly, the efficacy of endod powder soap was compared with the endod spray method. In Bati stream, endod powder soap was distributed to the residents every weekend at laundry sites. In Worke stream, endod was sprayed along a 1-km stretch of the stream at 3-month intervals. No endod was applied in Harbu stream. The immediate and long-term effects of endod application on the snail population and schistosomal infection were determined. Using the spray method, 100% snail mortality could be obtained, and it was simpler and more effective than the drip-feeding method. Snail mortality ranged from 20 to 100% using endod soap. There was a progressive decline in the snail population and infection in Bati stream compared with Worke stream, mainly due to sustained use of endod soap. The advantages and disadvantages of the different endod delivery systems are discussed.

Control of Schistosoma mansoni by the soapberry Endod (Phytolacca dodecandra) in Wollo, northeastern Ethiopia: post-intervention prevalence.

OBJECTIVES: To record the effect of Endod soap and spraying of soaked Endod suspension on the prevalence of human schistosomiasis. DESIGN: A cross-sectional epidemiological study in which pre- and post-intervention parasitological results were compared. SETTING: Kemise, Bati and Harbu towns in northeastern Ethiopia. SUBJECTS: The study subjects included all members of the five per cent households systematically selected from the three towns. RESULTS: In Kemise town, where suspension of ground Endod was sprayed on the stream containing infected snails, the prevalence of the disease was reduced from 59% to 53% and the mean intensity of infection was reduced from 239 eggs per gram (EPG) of faeces to 99 EPG (p < 0.05). In Bati town where Endod soap approach was used, the respective reduction in the prevalence and intensity of infection was from 51% to 43% and from 195 EPG to 162 EPG (p < 0.05). There was also a significant reduction of the disease in the control town probably due to the effects of praziquantel treatment and other factors. CONCLUSION: The reduction achieved in the prevalence and intensity of schistosomiasis after an intervention period of four years was limited. This observation corroborates the fact that molluscicides must always be considered as supplementary to chemotherapy in the control of schistosomiasis. Although both approaches can be used, the spraying approach appears to be simpler and more feasible because two or three times yearly application of Endod suspension would suppress snail population and reduce transmission. Nevertheless, the choice as to what approach to use must be made on the basis of community preference, and for some soap-effect of Endod would be attractive

Investigation into the cercariacidal and miracidiacidal properties of Endod (Phytolacca dodecandra) berries (type 44).

Aqueous extract of ground Endod (Phytolacca dodecandra) berries (Type 44) was investigated for its cercariacidal and miracidiacidal properties. Aqueous extract of the berries prevented snails from being infected by miracidia at a concentration of 4 ppm. Assessment of cercariacidal activity of Endod berries indicated that mortality of cercariae exposed to aqueous extract of Endod berries increased with increase in concentration of the test material and exposure time. Viability assessment test showed that pre-treatment of the cercariae with 12 ppm of the extract completely inhibited infection of mice by cercariae and significantly reduced tissue egg deposition and worm establishment in the mice (ANOVA, P < 0.05) The potential use of (Phytolacca dodecandra) berries against schistosome larval stages in fresh water in a schistosomiasis control program is discussed.