Abstract

EFFECT OF ETHANOL EXTRACT OF ARECA CATECHU AND SYZYGIUM AROMATICUM ON GLUTATHIONE-S-TRANSFERASE OF COTYLOPHORON COTYLOPHORUM

K. Manoj Dhanraj and L. Veerakumari*

ABSTRACT

Paramphistomosis is an important parasitic disease in sheep and goats and causes considerable economic loss to the livestock industry. Anthelmintics are commonly used against rumen flukes. The problem of the development of resistance against the common chemical anthelmintics has been renewed the interest in the study of medicinal plants for the development of novel anthelmintics. Glutathione-Stransferase is a multifunctional enzyme that participates in the detoxification of endogenous and exogenous toxic metabolites which are fatal to the parasite. The anthelmintic activity of ethanol extracts of Areca catechu and Syzygium aromaticum on Glutathione-S-transferase activity of the digentic trematode Cotylophoron cotylophorum was studied. The parasites were exposed to five sub-lethal concentrations of ethanol extracts of Areca catechu and Syzygium aromaticum for 2, 4 and 8h. Glutathione-Stransferase was assayed in control and drug treated flukes. Maximum inhibition of Glutathione-S-transferase activity was observed @ 0.5 mg/ml of ethanol extracts of Areca catechu and Syzygium aromaticum after 8h of exposure. Inhibition of Glutathione-Stransferase activity was dose and time dependent. Decrease in Glutathione-S-transferase lead to accumulation of toxic metabolites which ultimately kill the parasites. The present investigation thus elucidated the anthelmintic potential of ethanol extracts of Areca catechu and Syzygium aromaticum which could be used to combat paramphistome infection in livestock.

Keywords: Cotylophoron cotylophorum, Areca catechu, Syzygium aromaticum, GST.