Anticestodal activities of the ethanol extracts of Ageratum conyzoides and Vernonia amydgalina leaves

Helminthosis is a serious problem for livestock and their owners due to the development of resistance to available anthelmintics. Plants have been explored as alternative sources for controlling anthelmintic resistance. Ageratum conyzoides (Billy goat weed) and Vernonia amygdalina (bitter leaf) are indigenous plants with several pharmacological activities. This study explored the in vivo anthelminthic potential of A. conyzoides and V. amygdalina against Hymenolepis, a zoonotic cestode infection in Wistar rats. Eighteen male Wistar rats naturally infected with Hymenolepis species were identified following faecal egg screening using a salt-sugar flotation solution. Following the Stoll egg count, animals with faecal egg counts (FEC) between 50 and 90 eggs per gram (epg) were used. The animals were randomly divided into six groups (n = 3) [A(A. conyzoides 250 mg/kg), B (A. conyzoides 500 mg/kg), C (albendazole 400 mg/kg), D (V. amygdalina 200 mg/kg), E (V. amygdalina 200 mg/kg and A. conyzoides 250 mg/kg), and E (propylene glycol as control)]. The treatment was administered orally for three days and FEC was conducted before and seven days after treatment to evaluate any FEC reduction. In the A. conyzoide-treated group, there was a dose-dependent reduction in FEC (89%) in the presence of Hymenolepis species gravid proglottids in the faecal material. The combination of both plants had lower efficacy. Weight changes were not statistically different across groups, but there were significant haematological changes (PCV and WBC count variations) associated with the treated groups seven days post-treatment (p<0.05). This study documented the anticestodal activity of the ethanol extract of Ageratum conyzoides (500 mg/kg). It is imperative that future investigations focus on detailing the mechanism of this activity and identifying the bioactive molecules responsible for such properties.