Assessment of Anthelminthic Activity of Plant Extracts on the Hookworm Ancylostoma ceylanicum

Presenter Information

Kaitlin Koppinger

Document Type

Oral Presentation

Campus where you would like to present

SURC 137B

Start Date

16-5-2013

End Date

16-5-2013

Abstract

Approximately one billion people world-wide are infected with hookworms. Hookworm infection is also the leading cause of physical growth delay, intellectual growth delay, retardation, and poor outcomes for pregnant women and their newborns. We have assessed the anthelmintic effects of natural plant extracts on the hookworm Ancylostoma ceylanicum. Studies have shown that hookworms are developing resistance to current anthelminthic drugs. To test the plant extracts obtained from Dr. Belofsky’s lab in the Chemistry Department, an in vitro assay was developed in Dr. Dondji’s lab that allows adult hookworms to survive outside of a host. Syrian hamsters were used as laboratory invertebrate host. Twenty-one days post infection the animals were sacrificed and the worms manually collected from the small intestines. Following an overnight incubation of worms in a culture medium, the worms were later placed with the plant extracts and monitored for mortality every 24 hours. Currently, five extracts have been tested with two showing activity against hookworms, Dalea ornata and Oemlaria cerasiformis. After seventy-two hours, we recorded the worm survival rates of 11 percent for Dalea ornata and 9percent for Oemlaria cerasiformis. In addition, Dalea ornata has been fractioned for the first time and showed a decrease of worm survival to 0 percent on Day 3. Plans are underway to test more fractions and for in vivo trials.

Faculty Mentor(s)

Blaise Dondji, Gil Belofsky

Additional Mentoring Department

Biological Sciences

Additional Mentoring Department

Chemistry

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May 16th, 12:40 PM May 16th, 1:00 PM

Assessment of Anthelminthic Activity of Plant Extracts on the Hookworm Ancylostoma ceylanicum

SURC 137B

Approximately one billion people world-wide are infected with hookworms. Hookworm infection is also the leading cause of physical growth delay, intellectual growth delay, retardation, and poor outcomes for pregnant women and their newborns. We have assessed the anthelmintic effects of natural plant extracts on the hookworm Ancylostoma ceylanicum. Studies have shown that hookworms are developing resistance to current anthelminthic drugs. To test the plant extracts obtained from Dr. Belofsky’s lab in the Chemistry Department, an in vitro assay was developed in Dr. Dondji’s lab that allows adult hookworms to survive outside of a host. Syrian hamsters were used as laboratory invertebrate host. Twenty-one days post infection the animals were sacrificed and the worms manually collected from the small intestines. Following an overnight incubation of worms in a culture medium, the worms were later placed with the plant extracts and monitored for mortality every 24 hours. Currently, five extracts have been tested with two showing activity against hookworms, Dalea ornata and Oemlaria cerasiformis. After seventy-two hours, we recorded the worm survival rates of 11 percent for Dalea ornata and 9percent for Oemlaria cerasiformis. In addition, Dalea ornata has been fractioned for the first time and showed a decrease of worm survival to 0 percent on Day 3. Plans are underway to test more fractions and for in vivo trials.