Phytochemical Analysis, Acute Toxicity and In vitro Activity of Ethanolic Leaves Extract of Waltheria indica (Sterculiaceae) on Onchocerca ochengi and Caenorhabditis elegans
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Onchocerciasis is responsible of a considerable burden of diseases, mainly because of its symptoms: visual impairment, blindness, disfiguring skin lesions, and severe itching, which are the results of the death of microfilariae. Since these infections are predominantly widespread in the poor and developing nations Ivermectin, the current drug of choice, is only microfilaricidal and suboptimal response to it, is increasingly being reported. Adult males of Onchocerca ochengi were incubated in RPMI-1640 medium supplemented of penicillin/streptomicin and plant extract or drugs. Caenorhabditis elegans were incubated at 20°C in NGM-Agar seeded and E. coli OP50 supplemented of plant extract or drugs. Worm mortality was determined biochemically by MTT/formazan colorimetry after 24, 48 and 72 h. Ivermectin and levamisole were used as positive controle. DMSO was the negative control. Acute toxicity on mice (Mus musculus) and phytochemical compounds were also determined. ELE of W. indica was lethal against O. ochengi and C. elegans. O. ocheng was the most sensitive to the extract with LC50. Values between 4.03 ± 0.51 µg/ml and 27.46 ± 0.08 µg/ml. The determination of secondary metabolites has revealed the presence of tannins, phenolic acids, saponins and flavonoids. Saponins (12.39 ± 1.00 mg/g) were the most quantified compound followed by tannins (0.96 ± 0.07 mg GAE/ 100g), phenolic acid (0.51 ± 0.07 mg/g GAE) and flavonoids (0.04 ± 0.07 mg of rutin/ 100g). The acute toxicity results showed that the LD50 is greater than 5000 mg/kg. The data indicate that the plant extract could be used to treat nematode infections even in cases of drug resistance towards established anthelmintic drugs.
Language: English
Subfield: Infectious Diseases
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7147336397