Appraisal and in-vitro study on anthelmintic effect of Vernonia cinerea (Monerakudumbiya) against larvae of Haemonchus contortus and Toxocara canis

E.R.H.S.S. Ediriweera, R. P. V. J. Rajapakse, W. D. Ratnasooriya

Abstract

This study is an attempt to gather and preserve the knowledge on therapeutic effects of Vernonia cinerea (Family: Asteraceae; Sinhala name: Monerakudumbiya, Sanskrit name: Sahadevi) and to observe anthelmintic effect in-vitro as it is used in treatment of worm infestation by villagers. Information was gathered from Ayurveda and Sri Lankan traditional medical texts, traditional physicians, journals and web search. Extracted juice of fresh leaves, herbal gruel and decoction prepared from V. cinerea are administered orally to treat stomach-ache, diarrhoea, dysentery, haemorrhoids, jaundice, hepatitis, worm infections, tonsillitis, cough, fever, filariasis, malaria, wounds, snake bites, skin diseases, eczema, leprosy, painful urination and colic, urinary calculi, urinary incontinence in children, arthritis, to increase menstrual flow, to stimulate labour and expedite the expulsion of placenta and in veterinary practice. Anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, anti-diuretic, antihyperglycemic, antioxidant, antimetastatic, antitumor, antifungal, bactericidal, nephrocurative, nephroprotective, and hepatoprotective activities of V. cinerea are scientifically proven. V. cinerea is used in treatment of worm infections in humans. In vitro larvae migratory inhibition assay carried out by the authors with larvae of Toxocara canis and Haemonchus contortus using water extracts of V. cinerea has revealed 89.42% and 86.67% inhibition respectively. Vernonia cinerea (Monerakudumbiya) is a plant with highly diverse medicinal values and is effective in inhibiting larval migration of Toxocara canis and Haemonchus contortus.

¹Institute of Indigenous Medicine, University of Colombo. Rajagiriya, Sri Lanka.
²Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
³Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, General Sir John Kotelawala Defense University, Ratmalana, Sri Lanka.
*Correspondence: E.R.H.S.S. Ediriweera, Professor, Unit of Kaya Chikitsa, Institute of Indigenous Medicine, University of Colombo. Rajagiriya, Sri Lanka. Email: ayurvedadocsujatha@yahoo.com