Vol. 1, Issue 1, Part A (2019)

Paramphistomosis is a major disease caused by stomach flukes. The Paramphistome Cotylophoron Cotylophorum lives in rumen and reticulum of sheep, goats and other domestic ruminants. The present study was undertaken to elucidate the anthelmintic effect of Ethanol extract of Nigella sativa on the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) of C. Cotylophorum in vitro. The parasites were maintained in vitro in Hedon-Fleig solution (pH 7.0) which is the best medium for their survival. Parasites were exposed to five different sub-lethal concentration of ethanol extract of Nigella sativa (NsEE) for 2, 4 and 8h. LDH and Protein content in the sample was estimated following standard procedures. The inhibition of LDH catalyzing oxidation of lactate results in the reduced production of malate, which subsequently results in the reduced production of ATP. Decreased production of ATP results in the death of parasites. The present investigation amply demonstrated that N. sativa could be used as a potential phytotherapeutic drug to combat paramphistome infection in livestock.