In Vitro Evaluation of the Anthelmintic Activity of Rhus coriaria (Sumac) Extract against Marshallagia marshalli

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran

2 Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Sirjan University of Medical Sciences, Sirjan, Iran

3 Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

Abstract

Marshallagia marshalli, a common parasite in domestic and wild ruminants in Iran, causes parasitic gastroenteritis. Chemical medicines like Levamisole are used to treat this infection, but drug-resistant infections have led to research on alternative anti-infective agents. This study investigated the anthelmintic properties of ethanol extract of sumac (Rhus coriaria) on M. marshalli in the laboratory. Three dilutions (25, 50, and 75 mg/ml) of the ethanolic extract of Sumac were prepared. Worms separated from the abomasum were exposed to the extracts at 37°C for up to 10 hours, and worm motility was evaluated hourly. Worms that did not move were considered dead, and the percentage of surviving worms was calculated. PBS buffer and levamisole (50 mg/ml) served as negative and positive controls, respectively. Results showed anthelmintic effects in all dilutions of the alcoholic extract compared to PBS buffer. However, there was no significant difference in worm survival compared to levamisole. The death rate of worms increased with higher concentrations of the extract and prolonged exposure time. In conclusion, sumac shows notable anthelmintic effects in laboratory conditions, providing a basis for further field research. Our study's main limitation is the inherent constraints of in vitro models, which may not fully replicate complex interactions within a living organism. Future researches should identify the active compounds in the extracts responsible for the scolicidal activities and conduct in vivo studies to assess their effectiveness and safety.

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