Anthelmintic Potential of Vernonia amygdalina on Toxocara canis in Domesticated Dogs

Abstract

Toxocariasis is a worldwide zoonotic parasitic infection and one route of preventing the disease in dogs and subsequent transmission to humans, especially children, is through treatment with anthelmintic. A study aimed at assessing the anthelmintic efficacy of Vernonia amygdalina leaves extract on Toxocara canis in domesticated dogs was carried out where the proximate and phytochemical components of the leaf extract were determined using the standard method and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, the anthelmintic efficacy was assessed in vitro and in vivo respectively. The study revealed that this plant contained alkaloids, saponins, tannins, glycosides, flavonoids, terpenoids, phenol and steroids. Lethal concentration (LC50) of 14.83ml/mg at 12 hours and a percentage egg reduction of 84% after 2 weeks was recorded, which revealed that the plant leaves have anthelmintic potential and this could be attributed to the presence of flavonoids which are associated with the treatment of gastric infections and also n-Hexadecanoic acid which accounts for it anthelmintic (nematicidal) effect, alongside Octadecanoic acid which is an anti-inflammatory compound.