In vitro effect of purified plumbagin of Plumbago indica against motility of Paramphistomum cervi

The crude extract of Plumbago indica L. has been used as Thai traditional medicine for treating digestive tract disorders [1]. Reportedly, the effect of purified plumbagin of P.indica inhibited the motility of Caenorhabditis elegans and infective cercariae stage of Schitosoma mansoni [2]. However, the anthelmintic activity of plumbagin on P.cervi has not been studied. Therefore, this work aimed to investigate the effect of purified plumbagin of P.indica root on adult P.cervi was evaluated after incubating parasite in M-199 medium containing plumbagin in the serial concentrations of 10 fold dilution of 100µg/ml, for 3, 6, 12 and 24h, relative motility assay and histopathological changes. It was found that the complete inhibition of worm motility and subsequent mortality was observed at 100µg/ml, in early 3h observation. The motility of P.cervi was progressively decreased since 3 to 12h exposure, and few activity of P.cervi was observed at 24h exposure at the concentraton 0.1,1.0 and 10.0µg/ml, respectively. Observation under the stereo-microscope, adult P.cervi appeared brown to black color, numerous blebs and peeling of tegument after 12h exposure. Light microscopic observation showed the numerous blebs, erosion and desquamation of tegument of P.cervi. They also revealed the cecal epithelial cell lining detachment. Although, the previously report that crude extract of Artocarpus lakoocha Roxb.affected on P.cervi [3], but its dosage is higher than plumbagin. These results suggest that plumbagin of P. indica could be against the motility of adult stage of P.cervi better than A.lakoocha.

Acknowledgement: This work was supported by the Thailand Research Fund (Senior Research Scholar Fellowship to Prof. Prasert Sobhon), Mahidol University and research grants from Suranaree University of Technology.

References: [1] Wuttidhammaved W (1997) The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants of Thailand: The Thai Traditional Medicine, The O-dien Store Publishing Co., Ltd, Bangkok, Thailand (Published in Thai), 681.

[2] Atjanasuppat K, Wongkham W, Meepowpan P, Kittakoop P, Sobhon P, Bartlett A, Whitfield PJ (2009)J Ethnopharmacol 123(3):475–82.

[3] Saowakon N, Tansatit T, Wanichanon C, Chanakul W, Reutrakul V, Sobhon P (2009) Exp Parasitol 122(4):289–98.