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Methanolic and aqueous extracts of Carica papaya leaves were evaluated for anthelminthic efficacy against worms collected from sheep farms in Northern Cyprus. Test worms were allocated into groups and exposed to 0.9% normal saline as a control, the standard drug albendazole at 25, 50, and 100 mg/mL, and corresponding concentrations of the papaya leaf extracts. The time required for paralysis and death was recorded. The methanolic extract demonstrated a dose-dependent effect, with higher concentrations leading to significantly faster paralysis and death compared to the aqueous extract. In comparison with albendazole, the methanolic extract showed significant efficacy in immobilising and killing the target parasites. The findings suggest that Carica papaya leaf extracts, particularly when prepared using methanol, possess potent anthelminthic properties that warrant further pharmacological evaluation for managing intestinal worm infections.
Parasitic worm infections in livestock present persistent management challenges and can undermine animal health. Identifying natural plant extracts with anthelminthic efficacy offers a potential path towards complementary or alternative treatments to synthetic drugs such as albendazole. This helps address the ongoing need for diverse therapeutic options in veterinary and agricultural settings where parasite resistance can limit conventional drug effectiveness.
This early-stage laboratory research demonstrates the in vitro parasite-clearing potential of Carica papaya leaf extracts, particularly methanolic formulations. Potential users include veterinary pharmaceutical developers seeking plant-based active ingredients for livestock dewormers. However, the work remains at an early experimental stage, requiring further in vivo validation, toxicological profiling, and formulation refinement before any commercial veterinary product or standardised herbal preparation can be developed.
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The study aimed to comprehensively evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of both methanolic and aqueous extracts of the leaves of Carica papaya in combating Haemonchus contortus, which serves as a well-established experimental model for helminthic infections. The purpose was to determine whether these plant extracts could offer a viable alternative or complement to conventional anthelminthic treatments. A total of thirty-six adult earthworms, measuring 3.5–5.0 cm in length, were collected from across sheep farms in Northern Cyprus. These worms were randomly allocated into nine experimental groups, with each group containing four worms. Fresh solutions were prepared immediately prior to the experiment, including 0.9% (w/v) normal saline as a control, and 25, 50, and 100 mg/mL concentrations of albendazole (control drug), as well as the ethanolic and aqueous bark extracts of Carica papaya leaves. Each group of worms was exposed to these solutions, and the time taken for paralysis and subsequent death was meticulously recorded in minutes. The methanolic leaf extract demonstrated a clear dose-dependent effect, with increasing concentrations (25, 50, and 100 mg/mL) producing progressively faster paralysis of the earthworms. Data were analyzed using One-way ANOVA and expressed as mean ± SEM. Differences achieving P<0.01 were considered statistically significant, confirming the potency of the methanolic extract compared to the aqueous extract. The findings indicate that the methanolic extract of Carica papaya leaves exhibits superior anthelminthic activity compared to its aqueous counterpart. Moreover, when compared with the control drug albendazole, the methanolic extract demonstrated significant efficacy in immobilizing and killing Haemonchus contortus. These results support the potential use of Carica papaya leaves, particularly its methanolic extract, as a natural therapeutic agent for treating intestinal worm infections, highlighting its promise for further pharmacological development.
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DOI: 10.64388/irev10i2-1722116
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