Insecticidal Activity of Hyoscyamus niger L. on Lucilia sericata Causing Myiasis.

BACKGROUND: Hyoscyamus niger L. (Solanaceae) generally known as henbane, is commonly distributed in Europe and Asia. In Turkey, henbane seeds have been used in folk medicine to remove worms from the eyes. The present study aimed to investigate the insecticidal activity of H. niger seeds. METHODS: n-hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol and alkaloid extracts were prepared from the seeds of the plant and their insecticidal activities on Lucilia sericata larvae were evaluated. EC50 and EC90 values of the alkaloid extract were calculated and morphological abnormalities were investigated. RESULTS: Alkaloid extract prepared from the seeds of this plant displayed significant insecticidal activity. EC50 values of H. niger seeds alkaloid extract were found to be 8.04, 8.49, 7.96 µg/mL against first, second and third instar, respectively. It was determined that malformations of larvae included damaged larvae with small size, contraction and weak cuticle. Furthermore, HPLC analysis was performed on alkaloid extract of H. niger seeds and main components of the extract were determined. It was determined that alkaloid extract mainly contain hyoscyamine and scopolamine. CONCLUSIONS: These results confirm the folkloric usage of the plant and suggest that the alkaloid content of the plant could be responsible for the insecticidal activity.

The scolicidal activity of the essential oil obtained from the needles of Pinus nigra Arn. subsp. pallasiana (Lamb.) Holmboe on hydatid cyst.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro activity of the essential oil of Pinus nigra subsp. pallasiana against protoscoleces of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato. In traditional Turkish folk medicine, the essential oils and resin of P. nigra and P. sylvestris are used externally for wound healing. They are also used in cattle for treating worms and as boiling essence against cold and stomachache. Protoscoleces were aseptically aspirated from sheep livers having hydatid cysts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three concentrations (10, 30, and 50 mg/mL) of the essential oil from P. nigra subsp. pallasiana cones were used for 10-60 min. The essential oil was applied to protoscoleces of hydatid cyst to determine the scolicidal activity of the essential oil. Viability of protoscoleces was observed by 0.1% eosin staining. RESULTS: The rate of dead protoscoleces was found to be 2.27% in the control group, which was not treated with essential oil. The rate of dead protoscoleces increased to 61.69%, 69.39%, 75.98% and 71.76% respectively after, 10, 20, 30, and 60 min when the protoscoleces were exposed to the P. nigra subsp. pallasiana essential oil at 10 mg/mL concentration. When protoscoleces were exposed to the essential oil of P. nigra subsp. pallasiana for 10, 20, 30, and 60 min at 30 mg/mL concentration, the mortality rates of protoscoleces were determined as 3.82%, 91.33%, 94.67% and 96.74%, respectively. The mortality rate of 100% was determined at 50 mg/mL concentration after 60 min of exposure. According to statistical analysis, P. nigra subsp. pallasiana essential oil at all concentrations had significant scolicidal effects compared to the control group at all exposure times. CONCLUSIONS: The essential oil of P. nigra subsp. pallasiana needles showed scolicidal activity and it could be a new scolicidal agent for using in hydatid cyst treatment.

Effective eradication of pinworms (Syphacia obvelata and Aspiculuris tetraptera) with Polygonum cognatum Meissn.

Polygonum cognatum Meissn. (Polygonaceae) is a wild edible plant known locally as "solucanotu, madimak" in Turkey and it has been used for various purposes, such as diuretic and antidiabetic, as well to treat oxyuris and worms internally in humans. The present study was carried out to investigate the anthelmintic activity of various extracts were obtained from the aerial parts of P. cognatum in order to justify its traditional usage in Turkish folk medicine. n-Hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts were prepared from the aerial parts of the plant, successively. The anthelmintic potentials of these extracts were evaluated on mice naturally infected with Syphacia obvelata and Aspiculuris tetraptera. Cellophane perianal tape test and fecal flotation test were used for the activity screening. The results were compared with control and reference groups. In addition to all these experiments, the total amount of phenolic compounds and tannin contents thought to be responsible for the activity were evaluated for all extracts. According to the results, it has been found that the methanolic extract reduced the number of S. obvelata (66.8%) and A. tetraptera (73.4%) eggs. Moreover, the methanolic extract include higher amount of total phenolic compound (48.75 ±â€¯0.82 mg of GA/g of extract) and tannin (30.04 ±â€¯0.22 mg TA/g of extract) than n-Hexane (17.21 ±â€¯0.75 mg of GA/g of extract; 6.82 ±â€¯0.41 mg TA/g of extract) and ethyl acetate (25.06 ±â€¯0.94 mg of GA/g of extract; 10.29 ±â€¯0.34 mg TA/g of extract); therefore the anthelmintic activity could be related to these constituents. The present study explored the anthelmintic potential of P. cognatum. Further studies should be conducted into the mechanism of these compounds' against helminths. This study can be an important step in the discovery of new anthelmintic agents.

Potential anthelmintic activity of Pelargonium endlicherianum Fenzl.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The decoction prepared from the roots of Pelargonium endlicherianum Fenzl. has been used for the treatment of gastrointestinal parasitism in small ruminants in Turkish Folk Medicine. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the present study is to investigate in vitro anthelmintic activity of the extracts prepared from the roots of Pelargonium endlicherianum Fenzl. (Geraniaceae). MATERIALS AND METHODS: So as to determine the potential anthelmintic effect of the roots of the plant, n-hexane, ethyl acetate (EtOAc) and methanol (MeOH) extracts were successively prepared. In vitro test methods were used for the determination of the anthelmintic effect of the extracts on eggs, larvae and adults of Haemonchus contortus. The extracts were prepared in three increasing concentrations by using Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS) for egg hatch, larval development assay and adult motility inhibition assay. PBS was used as negative control, levamisole (in PBS) was used as a reference. RESULTS: The extracts exerted significant anthelmintic activity on three lifecycle stages of Haemonchus contortus when compared to the negative control group (P<0.05). The activity was proportional to the concentrations of the plant extracts for egg hatching and the first stage larvae but not for the adult worms. Moreover, the results have shown that the MeOH extract was found to have higher ovicidal and larvicidal effects than the other extracts. CONCLUSIONS: Results of the present research have revealed that MeOH extract obtained from P. endlicherianum demonstrated in vitro anthelmintic effect against the eggs, the first stage larvae and the adult stage of H. contortus. These results confirmed the folkloric use of the plant. It was suggested that the tannin content of the plant could be responsible for the anthelmintic activity.

In vitro anthelmintic effect of Vicia pannonica var. purpurascens on trichostrongylosis in sheep.

Vicia species are used for the treatment of malaria, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, kidney problems and infertility in Turkish traditional medicine. The present study was carried out to evaluate the in vitro anthelmintic effects of Vicia pannonica Crantz. var. purpurascens (DC). Ser. extracts. Larval motility test was used to determine anthelmintic activity of this plant. Motility of the larvae is measured by observation. The methanol, n-hexane, chloroform, acetone, and aqueous extracts of the aerial parts of the plant including the leaves and flowers were applied to developing trichostrongylus larvae at 1, 0.8, 0.6, 0.4, 0.2 and 0.1 mg/ml doses. Thiabendazole and distilled water with 5% DMSO was used as positive and negative control. All of the extracts were 100% effective. Two flavone and flavonol glycosides; luteolin-7-ß-O-glucopyranoside (1) and quercetin-3-O-ß-glucopyranoside (2) were isolated from the acetone extract and their structures were elucidated by spectral techniques. The solutions prepared from two flavonoid fractions at several doses were performed in vitro to larvae in the same way. Both of them were 100% effective at 1 and 0.8 mg/ml doses. Results of the present study support the utilization of these plant species employed in Turkish folk medicine.

The in vivo anthelmintic efficacy of some Verbascum species growing in Turkey.

Verbascum L. (Scrophulariaceae) species are used for desiccating wounds and as a fish poison in Anatolia as well as for diarrhea and dysentery of animals in several countries. To further evaluate their activity, methanolic extracts obtained from 13 Verbascum species growing in Turkey, including V. chionophyllum Hub.-Mor., V. cilicicum Boiss., V. dudleyanum (Hub.-Mor.) Hub.-Mor., V. lasianthum Boiss., V. latisepalum Hub.-Mor., V. mucronatum Lam., V. olympicum Boiss., V. pterocalycinum var. mutense Hub.-Mor., V. pycnostachyum Boiss. & Heldr., V. salviifolium Boiss., V. splendidum Boiss., V. stachydifolium Boiss. & Heldr. and V. uschackense (Murb.) Hub.-Mor. were evaluated for their in vivo anthelmintic activity. The extracts from V. lasianthum, V. latisepalum, V. mucronatum and V. salviifolum showed the highest inhibitory rates against Aspiculuris tetraptera at 100mg/kg in mice. Additionally, extracts from V. dudleyanum and V. pterocalycinum var. mutense were found generally highly effective. The remaining species did not show any activity. Results of the present study support the utilization of these plant species employed in Turkish folk medicine.

Evaluation of some plants used in Turkish folk medicine against parasitic infections for their in vivo anthelmintic activity.

Ethanolic and aqueous extracts obtained from nine plant species from seven families selected depending on their use in Turkish folk medicine, including Citrillus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. (seed), Jasminum fruticans L. (branches), Juniperus drupacea Labill. (fruits), Juniperus nana L. (fruit and leaves), Juniperus oxcycedrus L (fruit and leaves), Mentha longifolia L. (herba), Pinus nigra ssp. pallasiana (Lamb.) Richt. (fruits), Plantago lanceolata L. (leaves), and Zea mays L. (seed) were evaluated for their in vivo anthelmintic activity. Among the plant extracts studied, both ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Jasminum fruticans, Mentha longifolia and Pinus nigra ssp. pallasiana, the aqueous extracts of Zea mays, the ethanolic extracts of Citrillus lanatus, Juniperus drupacea (fruit), Juniperus oxcycedrus and Plantago lanceolata displayed significant anthelmintic activity against pinworms, Syphacia obvelata and Aspiculuris tetraptera, in mice. Rest of the extracts from plants did not show any remarkable anthelmintic activity. The results were considered significant at p<0.05.