IN VITRO ANTHELMINTHIC ACTIVITY OF PIPER RETROFRACTUM AGAINST STRONGYLOIDES STERCORALIS THIRD STAGE INFECTIVE LARVAE

Emergence of anthelminthic resistance due to widespread and indiscriminate applications of conventional drugs has stimulated the need for alternatives in treatment and prevention of strongyloidiasis. This study evaluated anthelminthic activity of tropical plants against Strongyloides stercoralis, the most common soil-transmitted threadworm. In vitro anthelminthic potential of plant based products was screened against S. stercoralis third stage infective larvae. Of 11 plants tested, three ethanolic extracts showed in vitro helminthicidal efficacy, causing 97-100% larval mortality. A dose-response anthelminthic bioassay demonstrated Piper retrofractum as the most effective extract, followed by Abelmoschus esculentus and Carica papaya, with LC50 value of 0.037, 0.092 and 0.101 mg / ml, respectively. Anthelminthic bioassays of P. retrofractum hexane extract, diethyl ether extract, dichloromethane extract, and essential oil demonstrated LC50 value of 0.060, 0.078, 0.086, and 1.080 mg / ml, respectively, much higher than that of the reference drug ivermectin (LC50 value = 0.021 mu g / ml). P. retrofractum extracts will be further tested for their in vivo anti-strongyloides activities to evaluate their potentials for development as novel anthelminthic agents in treatment and prevention of strongyloidiasis.