Antifilarial activity of Azadirachta indica on cattle filarial parasite Setaria cervi

Alcohol and aqueous extracts of flowers of Azadirachta indica were tested in vitro for their potential antifilarial activity against whole worm, nerve muscle (n.m.) preparation and microfilariae of Setaria cervi. The effects of alcohol and aqueous extracts were similar in nature on the spontaneous movements of whole worm and nerve muscle preparation. On the whole worm, the response was characterized by initial increase in tone, rate and amplitude of contractions followed by reversible paralysis. The initial stimulant effect is likely to be due to irritant effect on the cuticle. Nerve muscle preparation responded to both extracts by inhibition of spontaneous movements followed by reversible paralysis; initial stimulation phase was absent. The inhibition was concentration related. Alcohol and aqueous extracts had almost similar lethal effect on the microfilariae of S. cervi, the LC50 being 15 and 18 ng/ml, respectively. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.