Evaluation of traditional anthelmintic herbs as substitutes for the endangered Embelia ribes, using Caenorhabditis elegans model

Abstract

Vidanga, Embelia ribes Burm. f. (Myrsinaceae) is a top-traded (>500 mt/yr) Ayurvedic herb, which is endangered and in short supply forcing substitutes in the markets. A comparative anthelmintic study was undertaken between E. ribes and substitutes, E. tsje-riam-cottam (Roem. & Schult.) A. DC., Myrsine afri-cana L. and Maesa indica (Roxb.) DC. Evaluation of anthelmintic activity was done using eggs, L1 larvae and adults of Caenorhabditis elegans. Anthelmintic ac-tivity of ethyl acetate extracts of all four candidates and their respective purified marker components (embelin or kiritquinone) was evaluated. Amongst the extracts, bioactivity of E. tsjeriam-cottam was found to be comparable to E. ribes, followed by M. africana and M. indica. None of the extracts displayed ovicidal effect. Additionally, crude extracts of all candidates were found to be 2–3 times better than their respective purified marker components. Results from this study indicate that usage of E. tsjeriam-cottam as a substi-tute anthelmintic drug for endangered E. ribes can be a good conservation strategy.