Research paperChemical analyses and anthelmintic effects of Artemisia campestris essential oil
Introduction
Helminth infections caused by gastrointestinal nematode (GINs) are a major health problem for small ruminants’ production (Waller, 1997; Perry and Randolph, 1999). H. contortus is one of the most important nematodes (Allonby and Urquhart, 1975). It causes anaemia and mortality particularly in younger animals (Newton, 1999; Emery et al., 2016).The infestation was responsible production losses may amount to 5%, 234% and 25% for wool, meat and mortality respectively (Suarez et al., 1990). In a recent survey in Tunisia, the overall prevalence of Haemonchus species in sheep, goats and cattle was 17, 33.6 and 7.23%, respectively (Akkari et al., 2013).
The control of gastro-intestinal nematode (GIN) in livestock is mainly treated with anthelmintic (Torres-Acosta and Hoste, 2008). However, the frequent use of these anthelmintics over many years leads to the development of resistance against all major groups (Wolstenholme et al., 2004). In addition, many drugs currently available for the treatment of infections are expensive and often not readily available or are easily counterfeited (AlMarby et al., 2016). Alternative strategies for control of nematode infections are needed.
Bioactive substances extracted from plants may represent an alternative for controlling gastrointestinal nematodes, since they can be supplied in a sustainable manner and they are ecologically acceptable and environmentally friendly (Costa et al., 2008). The use of medicinal plants has been reported in treating various ailments, thereby increasing the interest in ethnomedical and ethnoveterinary cures (Lulekal et al., 2014).
The genus Artemisia (commonly known as “Tgouft’’ in Tunisia) is a perennial aromatic herb belonging to asteraceae family which includes about 400 species distributed in the Mediterranean region, Northern Africa, Western Asia and Southwestern Europe, and in Arabian Peninsula (Ghorab et al., 2013). In Tunisia, the genus Artemisia includes five species (A. herba-alba ASSO, A. arborescens L., A. vulgaris L., A. campestris L., and A. atlantica (Le Floc’h, 1983 ). The essential oil and extracts of A. campestris has been isolated, analysed and investigated for its biological activities by several authors in Tunisia. (Akkari et al., 2013; Akrout et al., 2011 and Aloui et al., 2017) and in other countries (Ghorab et al., 2013; Dib et al., 2017) A. campestris essential oil is reported to possess biological effects such as anti-leishmania (Aloui et al., 2017), antifungal (Houicher et al., 2016), antimicrobial and antioxidant properties (Baykan Erel et al., 2012).
As far as the literature could be ascertained, this is the first study on anthelmintic activity of A. campestris essential oil. Current study, aimed at evaluating the chemical profile, the toxicity and the potential in vitro and in vivo nematicidal effects of A. campestris essential
oil aerial part against gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep.
Section snippets
Plant materials
Fresh leaves and stems of A. compestris were collected during May (spring season), at Elhania, Sidi Bouzid governorate (Central Tunisia,). A. campestris is widespread in Northern Africa and other similar Mediterranean agro-ecological zones.
Isolation of the essential oils and analysis
Dried leaves and stems were hydrodistilled for 3 h using a Clevenger-type apparatus. The obtained oil was dried using anhydrous sodium sulphate and stored in sterile tubes at 4 °C until analyses.
Samples of the extracted essential oil were analysed by Gas
Chemical analysis of Artemisia compestris essential oils
GC–MS analysis of essential oils aerial part revealed 50 components representing 99.98% of the oil. The composition of the essential oil was as follows: 36.40% beta-pinene, 14.7% 2-undecanone, 10.57% limonene, 6.3% benzene and other substances were present at low concentrations (Table 1).
Egg hatch assay
A. campestris essential oil showed ovicidal activity at all tested concentrations (Fig. 1). A. campestris oil exhibited dose-dependent egg hatching inhibition activities and the IC50 was 0.93 mg/ml. The
Discussion
In the present study, we investigated the in vitro and in vivo anthelmintic effects of essential oil extracted from the aerial part of A.campestris against gastrointestinal nematodes from sheep.
In total, 50 compounds were identified representing 99.98% of oil compositions. The main compounds found were: beta-pinene (36.4%), 2-undecanone (14.7%), limonene (10.57%) and benzene (3.6%). Abundance of beta-pinene is consistent with previous findings on A.campestris essential oil composition from
Conclusion
Based on the results of the current study, A.campestris essential oil showed significant in vitro and in vivo anthelmintic activity. The effect of essential oil was dose dependant. Further research such as purification and identification of bioactive compounds and toxicological investigation are necessary.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare no conflicts of interest in relation to this work.
Acknowledgements
This work received financial support by “Laboratoired’Epidémiologie d’Infections Enzootiques des Herbivores en Tunisie” (Ministère de l’enseignement supérieur, Tunisia). The authors would like to thank Mr Limam Sassi, Mr Mohamed Jedidi, and Mr Bechir Guesmiand Mr Tawfik Lahmar for their valuable technical assistance.
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