Mark Timothy L. Arroz Mark Lennon L. Marcelino (March 2010)
Philippine Science High School Western Visayas Campus – Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PSHS WVC), Brgy. Bito-on, Jaro, Iloilo City 5000, Philippines
ABSTRACT
Nematodes remain the major gastrointestinal parasites of livestock animals and are responsible for decreased productivities resulting in heavy economic losses in animal- based industries.
Despite remarkable achievements in the discovery and improvement of pharmaceutical anthelmintics, diseases due to nematode infections continue to be the greatest constraint in sustainable livestock production worldwide.
This study determined the anthelmintic activity of ampalaya (Momordica charantia). The time of paralysis and time of death when exposed to different concentrations of ampalaya extract (10, 20, and 50mg/mL) were determined. The anthelmintic assay was carried out as per the method of Ajaiyeoba et al., where six actively moving worms of approximately equal size were placed in nine cm Petri dishes containing 25 ml. of 10, 20 and 50 mg/ml. of the ampalaya extract.
Three replications per treatment concentration were employed, and the time of paralysis and time of death of the worms in each petri dish were determined. The 50mg/ml. ampalaya concentration showed the fastest paralytic effect (28.6 min) which is relatively comparable to that of the positive control, piperazine (33 min).
The extract of 50mg/mL concentration showed the greatest anthelmintic effect by killing the test organisms at the shortest time (53.86 All test concentrations (50mg/ml., 20mg/ml., 10mg/mL) showed paralytic effect, well as exhibited anthelmintic property by killing A. suum as Based on the results and observations in the study, it is further recommended that higher test concentrations of ampalaya extract be tested, in vivo studies on the anthelmintic properties of ampalaya extracts against Ascaris suum and toxicity testing of ampalaya plant.