Phytochemical Composition and In Vitro Anthelmintic Activity of Vitex doniana Leaf Extract against Taenia solium and Taenia saginata

Abstract

Helminth infections are still a public health and veterinary problem and continue to be of interest for medicinal plants as a source of bioactive compounds against helminths. In this study, the qualitative phytochemical composition of the leaf extracts of Vitex doniana and the in vitro anthelmintic activity of the methanolic extract of the leaves of Vitex doniana were evaluated. The fresh leaves of V. doniana were harvested, identified, shade dried, ground and extracted separately with methanol, ethanol and distilled water by maceration method. The qualitative phytochemical screening was carried out for alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, phenols, glycosides, steroids and terpenoids. The methanolic extract was chosen for anthelmintic activity due to its relatively high phytochemical content and tested at concentrations of 25, 50, 100 and 200 mg/mL. Paralysis and death times were recorded, and albendazole (20 mg/mL) was used as a non-equivalent positive control. The methanolic extract was rich in flavonoids (+++) and saponins (+++) and the ethanolic extract was rich in phenols (+++). The anthelmintic assay showed that the paralysis and death times were reduced in a concentration-dependent manner. The extract caused paralysis and death times of 27.8 ± 1.2 and 60.4 ± 1.8 min, respectively, against specimens reported as T. solium and 30.7 ± 1.3 and 64.2 ± 1.9 min, respectively, against specimens reported as T. saginata at 200 mg/mL. Albendazole (20 mg/mL) produced shorter paralysis and death times; however, because the highest extract concentration (200 mg/mL) was 10-fold higher than that of the positive control, this comparison is non-equivalent and is reported descriptively only. A concentration-matched positive control would be required for any valid potency comparison. The results obtained in this study indicate that the extract of V. doniana leaves has measurable concentration-dependent in vitro anthelmintic activity, and further research is warranted to explore the bioactive components of the plant. The results, however, do not prove clinical efficacy or the compounds responsible for the activity. Taxonomic confirmation of test organisms, quantitative phytochemical profiling, bioassay-guided fractionation, toxicity studies, mechanistic investigations and suitably designed in vivo studies are recommended.