An investigation on the anthelmintic effect of Nigella sativa L. extract on the infective larva of Parascaris equorum in vitro

In this study, the anthelmintic effects of the medicinal herb, Nigella Sativa L., was screened in vitro against the infective larvae of Parascaris equorum. Follow the collection of Parascaris worms, the egg content were depleted and hatched using sodium hypochlorite solution. The recovered larvae of the parasite were exposed to six concentrations (6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, 100 and 200 mg/mL) of the Nigella extract and then examined for the viability at 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 minutes after the challenge. The results revealed that the concentration of 6.25 mg/mL had not any significant anthelmintic effects on P. equorum larvae. In contrast, the statistics indicated that all the higher concentrations of the Nigella extract remarkably reduced the viability of larva. These results were obvious during the first ten minutes of the experiment. With increase in time of exposure, the mortality effect of the extract elevated significantly. In addition, all larvae were inactivated after 40, 20 and 10 minutes after exposure at the concentrations of 50, 100 and 200 mg/ml, respectively. These results confirmed that this herbal extract possess good antiparasitic effects against P. equorum infections.