Abstract
This study was carried out to investigate the anthelmintic efficacy of the crude extract and fractions of Prosopis africana leaves against the gastrointestinal parasitic ova and larvae of Haemonchus contortus. The methanol crude extract of P. africana was partitioned into four fractions: N-butanol, petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, and aqueous. The concentrations of the extracts and fractions used in the treatment groups were 0.78 mg/ml, 1.56 mg/ml, 3.125 mg/ml, 6.25 mg/ml, and 12.5 mg/ml. At the concentration of 12.5 mg/ml the result showed that the egg hatch and larval development inhibition were 99.5% and 96%, respectively. This shows a significant difference (p < 0.05) when compared with the 100% inhibitory effect of albendazole. In the assay for ovicidal activity, all the fractions showed no significant difference (P > 0.05) when compared with albendazole. However, a significant difference (P < 0.05) was observed with all the fractions against larvae of H. contortus. This indicates a dose-dependent increase in the ovicidal and larvicidal activity of the crude extract and the fractions of P. africana leaves. However, this study confirms that the crude extract and fractions of P. africana possess anthelmintic compounds against H. contortus.