Antiparasitic Activity of Male fern ( Dryopteris fillix-mas) and Tawa -tawa ( Euphorbia hirta) Against Roundworms( Ascaris lumbricoides)

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Parasitic infection is a major problem in tropical regions including the Philippines. One example of a parasite that grows in animals like pigs is the Ascaris lumbricoides. Herbal medicines are commonly used to treat different infections. With this, the researchers sought to create an antiparasitic agent using the leaf extracts of Dryopteris filix-mas and Euphorbia hirta.

METHODS

Leaves of tawa-tawa and male fern plants were sun-dried and pulverized for one week. To obtain the extracts, ethanolic extractions were done using rotary evaporator.145 grams of Dryopteris filix-mas was percolated in 580 mL ethyl acetate while 145 grams of Euphorbia hirta underwent the same process in 435 mL ethyl acetate. The effectiveness of the plant extracts was tested by determining the death time of the roundworms soaked in 100% and 50% of varying concentrations of ethanolic extracts from dried D. filix-mas and E. hirta leaves. Each setup was observed every three minutes to determine if the roundworms were still alive. Three trials were done in each setup with the varying concentrations of the ethanolic extracts from dried D. filix-mas and E. hirta leaves.

RESULTS

After conducting the test, results showed that the 100% ethanolic extract from dried D. filix-mas leaves was the most effective. The 50% ethanolic extract was able to kill the A. lumbricoides but it took a long time before it was killed. For the dried E. hirta leaves, the 100% of its ethanolic extract is the most effective. The 50% ethanolic extract also consumed a long time for the A. lumbricoides to be killed. This showed that the 100% ethanolic extract from both plants are the most effective of the two concentrations.

DISCUSSIONS

Overall, this research study was able to prove the antiparasitic activity of these plants by determining the effectiveness of the ethanolic extract for each concentration. The most effective concentration is the 100% ethanolic extracts from D. filix-mas and E. hirta leaves. In ancient Greek civilization, this plant has been always recommended by different physicians in treating intestinal worms.