Prospecção química, toxicidade do extrato etanólico de Jatropha mollissima (Pohl) Baill. (Euphorbiaceae) e seu efeito sobre ovos, larvas e adultos de Haemonchus contortus no semiárido paraibano.

Abstract

This work aimed to evaluate the pharmacological potential of Jatropha mollissima (pinhão-bravo) as a possible source of metabolites with anthelmintic action. For this, we conducted the phytochemical screening of ethanol extracts of leaves, stem and root of Jatropha mollissima, as well as acute toxicity tests (LC50) on Artemia salina, with extracts at concentrations of 100, 500 and 1000 μg/mL. The extract was tested in fecal cultures containing infective larvae of Haemonchus contortus, at concentration of 660,80 μg/ and in animals at concentrations of 660,80μg/ml and 1321,6μg/ml. Fecal samples were collected weekly while blood ones were collected each fifteen days. As a result, it was confirmed the presence of phenols, tannins, flavonoids, xanthones, steroids, triterpenoids, alkaloids, coumarins and saponins. On A. salina, the evolution of the toxicity of the extracts was directly proportional to the concentration. The root showed higher degree of toxicity, followed by leaf and stem, presenting LC50 values of 223,61, 406,02 and 660,80 respectively. The ethanol extract of J. mollissima inhibited the hatching of eggs and the development of larvae of H. contortus, presenting an efficiency of 70.77%. In vivo test revealed an OPG reduction of 47 and 44% in the groups treated with the extract and only 13% with ivermectin. Even parasitized, animals remained clinically healthy and without anemia. Jatropha mollissima demonstrates to have pharmacological potential and represents an alternative to the control of sheep worms.