Phytochemical and in vitro anthelmintic properties of mesocarp of fruit extracts from Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Delile (Zygophyllaceae)

Introduction: Balanites aegyptiaca L. (DEL) is a plant used in Burkina Faso in traditional medicine to treat gastrointestinal parasitosis. The purpose of this study was to assess the in vitro anthelmintic activity of aqueous and hydro-ethanolic macerates (AM and HEM) of the fruit mesocarp from Balanites aegyptiaca against Haemonchus contortus. Methods: Phytochemical screening of the extracts was done using thin-layer chromatography. The egg hatch inhibition assay (EHIA) at ۰.۱۲۵, ۰.۱۵, ۰.۲۵, ۰.۶۲۵, ۱.۲۵, and ۵ mg/mL and Adult worms mortality assay (AWMA) at ۰.۶۲۵, ۱.۲۵, ۲.۵, ۵, ۱۰, and ۱۵ mg/mL concentrations were evaluated. Albendazole and levamisole were used as standards, and phosphate-buffered saline was used as a negative control. The antioxidant potential of extracts was evaluated using the ABTS [۲,۲’-azinobis (۳-ethyl benzoin-۶-sulphonate)] and DPPH (۲,۲-diphenyl-picrylhydrazine) methods and Fe۳+ ion reducing power. The standards used were trolox and ascorbic acid. Results: Several secondary metabolites such as sterols, triterpenes, tannins, flavonoids, coumarins, and saponins were identified. For EHIA, the AM was more effective than HEM with ۵۰% inhibitory concentrations (IC۵۰) of ۰.۳۵ mg/mL and ۰.۴۳ mg/mL, respectively. AM was even more effective for AWMA than HEM, with ۵۰% lethal concentrations (LC۵۰) of ۳.۱۵ mg/mL and ۸.۳۷ mg/mL, respectively. The DPPH method gave an IC۵۰ of ۸۳۴.۵۵ μg/mL and the capacity to reduce ferric ion (Fe۳+) to ferrous ion (Fe۲+) was ۲۷۰.۴ µmol/Ascorbic acid equivalent. Conclusion: AM and HEM from the mesocarp of B. aegyptiaca have anthelmintic properties. AM is more effective than HEM, which justifies their use with priority for AM.