In vitro antitrematodal efficacy of Zanthoxylum chalybeum and Azadirachta indica extracts against adult Fasciola spp. collected from cattle in Soroti, Eastern Uganda

Abstract

Synthetic anthelmintic drugs like Albendazole, Triclabendazole, Nitroxynil, and Oxyclozanide have been used to treat fasciolosis. Despite the widespread use of these drugs in Uganda, fasciolosis has remained a significant problem to cattle production. Natural chemicals derived from plants have however demonstrated potential as anthelmintics, providing a different approach to managing parasitic diseases. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the in vitro efficacy of Zanthoxylum chalybeum and Azadirachta indica on liver flukes collected from Soroti in Eastern Uganda. An experimental study design was used in which adult flukes were cultured under different drug concentrations of 10%, 20% and 40%. The experiment was replicated three times and outcomes such as changes in the morphology of the flukes, alterations in size and shape, visible damage to fluke structures, mortality and survival rates were measured using a scoring system following microscopic observation. The results indicated that Zanthoxylum chalybeum exhibited 89% fluke mortality at 10% concentration, and 100% at 40% concentration. All flukes showed high activity in the 50% bile + 50% normal saline medium that was used as a negative control. It was recommended that comprehensive in vivo studies should be conducted to confirm the efficacy of Zanthoxylum chalybeum against liver flukes in livestock.

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. BMC Veterinary Research, 2026 · DOI ↗