Anthelmintic activity of the latex of Ficus species
The latex of some species of Ficus (Moraceae) has been traditionally used as vermifuge in Central and South America. It has been accepted that anthelmintic activity is due to a proteolytic fraction called ficin. In the present study, the anthelmintic activity of the latex of Ficus insipida Willd. an...
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| Published in: | Journal of ethnopharmacology Vol. 64; no. 3; pp. 255 - 258 |
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Shannon
Elsevier Ireland Ltd
01-03-1999
Elsevier |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Get full text |
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| Summary: | The latex of some species of
Ficus (Moraceae) has been traditionally used as vermifuge in Central and South America. It has been accepted that anthelmintic activity is due to a proteolytic fraction called ficin. In the present study, the anthelmintic activity of the latex of
Ficus insipida Willd. and
Ficus carica L. has been investigated in NIH mice naturally infected with
Syphacia obvelata,
Aspiculuris tetraptera and
Vampirolepis nana. The latex of
F. insipida, administered by intragastric route in doses of 4 ml/kg/day during three consecutive days, were effective in the removal of 38.6% of the total number of
S. obvelata, being inexpressive in the removal of
A. tetraptera (8.4%) and segments of
V. nana (6.3%). The latex of
F. carica, administered in doses of 3 ml/kg/day, during three consecutive days, was effective in the removal of
S. obvelata (41.7%) and it did not produce significant elimination of
A.
tetraptera (2.6%) and
V. nana (8.3%). The observed high acute toxicity with hemorrhagic enteritis, in addition to a weak anthelmintic efficacy, do not recommend the use of these lattices in traditional medicine. |
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| ISSN: | 0378-8741 1872-7573 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/S0378-8741(98)00139-1 |