An experimental investigation on the anthelmintic efficacy of crude aqueous extracts of selected medicinal herbs against gastrointestinal helminths in native chickens Sarah M. Tuyor (a), John Mark S. Ramada (a,b*)
a) Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Agri-Industries, Caraga State University, Ampayon, Butuan City, 8600, Philippines
b) Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
Abstract
Gastrointestinal helminthiasis limits native chicken productivity in free-range systems, where farmers often resort to unvalidated plant-based remedies with limited scientific support. This study assessed the anthelmintic efficacy of selected crude aqueous herbal extracts against gastrointestinal helminths in native chickens raised under semi-scavenging conditions. Forty-five naturally infected birds were randomly allocated to five treatment groups: T1 (distilled water), T2 (commercial levamisole), T3 (Basella alba), T4 (Carica papaya), and T5 (Allium sativum). Treatments were administered orally at 3 mL/kg body weight, and fecal egg counts (EPG) were measured at baseline (Day 0), and at Days 10 and 14 post-treatments. Phytochemical analysis confirmed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, steroids and tannins in all tested species. By Day 10, substantial reductions in EPG occurred, with C. papaya and A. sativum achieving significantly lower EPG counts compared to distilled water and the commercial anthelmintic levamisole (p < 0.05). B. alba exhibited intermediate efficacy, comparable statistically to the two most effective botanicals. However, EPG values rebounded significantly across all groups by Day 14, though C. papaya, A. sativum, and B. alba maintained significantly lower burdens compared to the control and levamisole groups (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that the tested herbal extracts possess short-term anthelmintic activity comparable or superior to synthetic levamisole. Their phytochemical composition may underlie this effect, although repeated or optimized dosing strategies are likely required to sustain parasite control.
