Effect of Leucaena leucocephala leaves hydroalcoholic extract over the hatching of Haemonchus contortus in vitro

Haemonchus contortus (HC) is a gastrointestinal nematode of worldwide importance due to the economic losses it causes directly and indirectly in sheep production. Plant extracts rich in secondary metabolites have been proposed as an alternative method of gastrointestinal nematode control in sheep and goats, as they fulfill their biological function and a sustainable environmental accompaniment. The objective of the present experiment was to determine the effect of the hydroalcoholic extract of Leucaena leucocephala leaves (HELL) on the hatching of Haemonchus contortus in vitro. The extract was obtained by the maceration technique and was subjected to qualitative phytochemical characterization, in which instaurations, phenolic oxydryls, lactones, flavonols, floratanins, coumarins, saponins and aromatic compounds were identified. Concentrations of 100, 90, 80, 70, 60 and 50 mg/mL of the extract were evaluated on the inhibition of egg hatching (IEH) of HC. The hydroalcoholic extract of L. leucocephala showed 71% IEH at 100 mg/mL, an EC50 and EC90 of 52.22 and 302 mg/mL, respectively. The hydroalcoholic extract of L. leucocephala leaves contains bioactive compounds (phenolics, terpenes and flavonoids) that inhibit HC egg hatching with dose-dependent effect. Therefore, HELL could be considered as an alternative control on this nematode, however, it is necessary to determine the specific metabolite that confers the activity, determine its toxicity and perform in vivo trials.