In vitro antiparasitic activity of extracts of Cardiospermum halicacabum against third-stage larvae of Strongyloides stercoralis.

Extracts of Cardiospermum halicacabum, medicinal plant, were tested in vitro for their effectiveness against third-stage larvae of Strongyloidesstercoralis. Third-stage larvae of S. stercoralis were isolated from cultures of dog's feces using agar plate culture method. The larvae (1,000 larvae/ml), suspended in phosphate buffer saline solution, pH 7.4, were exposed to aqueous and alcohol extracts (2,000 microg/ml) of C. halicacabum at 37 degrees C with 5% CO2. Ivermectin (250 microg/ml) and piperazine (2,000 microg/ml) were also used as the reference drugs. The survival of Strongyloides larvae based on its motility was determined daily for 7 days. Strongyloides larvae were viable after contact with ivermectin, piperazine and C. halicacabum (aqueous and alcohol) solutions, but most of them were immobilized, after exposure to aqueous and alcohol extracts of C. halicacabum within 72 and 48 h, respectively, while ivermectin took from 72 to 144 h, and piperazine more than 7 days, to achieve the same rate of nonmotility. Clearly, the viability of S. stercoralis larvae was significantly reduced when exposed to extracts of C. halicacabum. Further study is needed on the antiparasitic activity of aqueous and alcohol extracts of C. halicacabum against S. stercoralis.