Ethnobotanical Survey and Cercaricidal Activity Screening of Medicinal Plants Used for Schistosomiasis Treatment in Atwima-Nwabiagya District, Ashanti Region, Ghana

This study focused on documenting and evaluating the cercaricidal activity of medicinal plants used for schistosomiasis treatment in an endemic area in Ghana. Through semistructured questionnaires, personal interviews with herbalists in communities surrounding the Barekese dam in the Atwima-Nwabiagy...

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Main Authors: Evelyn Asante-Kwatia, Lord Gyimah, Arnold Donkor Forkuo, William Kofi Anyan, Makafui Adzo Gbemu, Francis Ackah Armah, Abraham Yeboah Mensah
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2023-01-01
Series:Journal of Parasitology Research
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2023/6707157
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author Evelyn Asante-Kwatia
Lord Gyimah
Arnold Donkor Forkuo
William Kofi Anyan
Makafui Adzo Gbemu
Francis Ackah Armah
Abraham Yeboah Mensah
author_facet Evelyn Asante-Kwatia
Lord Gyimah
Arnold Donkor Forkuo
William Kofi Anyan
Makafui Adzo Gbemu
Francis Ackah Armah
Abraham Yeboah Mensah
author_sort Evelyn Asante-Kwatia
collection DOAJ
description This study focused on documenting and evaluating the cercaricidal activity of medicinal plants used for schistosomiasis treatment in an endemic area in Ghana. Through semistructured questionnaires, personal interviews with herbalists in communities surrounding the Barekese dam in the Atwima-Nwabiagya district, where the disease is endemic, were carried out. Thirty medicinal plants distributed in 19 families were reported to be used for schistosomiasis treatment in the survey. Information on the plants, including scientific names, common names, families, and the used plant part were recorded. The families Apocynaceae and Euphorbiaceae recorded the highest number of plants (14% each), followed by Asteraceae (10%), Loranthaceae (7%), and Rubiaceae (7%). In vitro cercaricidal activity of methanol extracts of nine out of the thirty plants was performed by exposing human Schistosoma mansoni cercariae obtained from Biomphalaria pfeifferi to various concentrations of extracts over a duration of 240 minutes. All the plants tested demonstrated time- and concentration-dependent cercaricidal activity. With lethality being set at <1000 μg/mL, the cercaricidal activity in order of decreasing potency was as follows: Withania somnifera (LC50 = 1.29) > Balanites aegyptiaca (LC50 = 7.1) > Xylia evansii (LC50 = 11.14) > Jathropha multifida (LC50 = 12.9) > Justicia flava (LC50 = 22.9) > Anopyxis klaineana (LC50 = 182.81) > Ximenia americana (LC50 = 194.98) > Loranthus lecardii (LC50 = 223.87) > Bridelia tenufolia (LC50 = 309.03) > Zanthoxylium zanthoxyloides (LC50 = 851.94). Phytochemicals, including alkaloids, tannins, triterpenes, saponins, phytosterols, and flavonoids were identified in the plants. The result of this study gives scientific credence to the traditional use of these plants in the treatment of schistosomiasis and proves that the rich botanical knowledge of medicinal plants provides an incredible starting point for the discovery of new anti-schistosomal drugs for the local population.
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spelling doaj-art-ccc18b10aafa4f0da8d4aa481184b99e2025-08-20T02:19:57ZengWileyJournal of Parasitology Research2090-00312023-01-01202310.1155/2023/6707157Ethnobotanical Survey and Cercaricidal Activity Screening of Medicinal Plants Used for Schistosomiasis Treatment in Atwima-Nwabiagya District, Ashanti Region, GhanaEvelyn Asante-Kwatia0Lord Gyimah1Arnold Donkor Forkuo2William Kofi Anyan3Makafui Adzo Gbemu4Francis Ackah Armah5Abraham Yeboah Mensah6Department of PharmacognosyDepartment of PharmacognosyDepartment of PharmacologyNoguchi Memorial Institute for Medical ResearchDepartment of PharmacognosyDepartment of Biomedical SciencesDepartment of PharmacognosyThis study focused on documenting and evaluating the cercaricidal activity of medicinal plants used for schistosomiasis treatment in an endemic area in Ghana. Through semistructured questionnaires, personal interviews with herbalists in communities surrounding the Barekese dam in the Atwima-Nwabiagya district, where the disease is endemic, were carried out. Thirty medicinal plants distributed in 19 families were reported to be used for schistosomiasis treatment in the survey. Information on the plants, including scientific names, common names, families, and the used plant part were recorded. The families Apocynaceae and Euphorbiaceae recorded the highest number of plants (14% each), followed by Asteraceae (10%), Loranthaceae (7%), and Rubiaceae (7%). In vitro cercaricidal activity of methanol extracts of nine out of the thirty plants was performed by exposing human Schistosoma mansoni cercariae obtained from Biomphalaria pfeifferi to various concentrations of extracts over a duration of 240 minutes. All the plants tested demonstrated time- and concentration-dependent cercaricidal activity. With lethality being set at <1000 μg/mL, the cercaricidal activity in order of decreasing potency was as follows: Withania somnifera (LC50 = 1.29) > Balanites aegyptiaca (LC50 = 7.1) > Xylia evansii (LC50 = 11.14) > Jathropha multifida (LC50 = 12.9) > Justicia flava (LC50 = 22.9) > Anopyxis klaineana (LC50 = 182.81) > Ximenia americana (LC50 = 194.98) > Loranthus lecardii (LC50 = 223.87) > Bridelia tenufolia (LC50 = 309.03) > Zanthoxylium zanthoxyloides (LC50 = 851.94). Phytochemicals, including alkaloids, tannins, triterpenes, saponins, phytosterols, and flavonoids were identified in the plants. The result of this study gives scientific credence to the traditional use of these plants in the treatment of schistosomiasis and proves that the rich botanical knowledge of medicinal plants provides an incredible starting point for the discovery of new anti-schistosomal drugs for the local population.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2023/6707157
spellingShingle Evelyn Asante-Kwatia
Lord Gyimah
Arnold Donkor Forkuo
William Kofi Anyan
Makafui Adzo Gbemu
Francis Ackah Armah
Abraham Yeboah Mensah
Ethnobotanical Survey and Cercaricidal Activity Screening of Medicinal Plants Used for Schistosomiasis Treatment in Atwima-Nwabiagya District, Ashanti Region, Ghana
Journal of Parasitology Research
title Ethnobotanical Survey and Cercaricidal Activity Screening of Medicinal Plants Used for Schistosomiasis Treatment in Atwima-Nwabiagya District, Ashanti Region, Ghana
title_full Ethnobotanical Survey and Cercaricidal Activity Screening of Medicinal Plants Used for Schistosomiasis Treatment in Atwima-Nwabiagya District, Ashanti Region, Ghana
title_fullStr Ethnobotanical Survey and Cercaricidal Activity Screening of Medicinal Plants Used for Schistosomiasis Treatment in Atwima-Nwabiagya District, Ashanti Region, Ghana
title_full_unstemmed Ethnobotanical Survey and Cercaricidal Activity Screening of Medicinal Plants Used for Schistosomiasis Treatment in Atwima-Nwabiagya District, Ashanti Region, Ghana
title_short Ethnobotanical Survey and Cercaricidal Activity Screening of Medicinal Plants Used for Schistosomiasis Treatment in Atwima-Nwabiagya District, Ashanti Region, Ghana
title_sort ethnobotanical survey and cercaricidal activity screening of medicinal plants used for schistosomiasis treatment in atwima nwabiagya district ashanti region ghana
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2023/6707157
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