International Journal of Ethnobiology & Ethnomedicine-Anthelmintic efficacy of selected ferns in sheeps (Ovis aries.Linn)

Ethnobotany of Actinopteris radiata (Sw.) Link, Acrostichum aureum (Linn), Dryopteris cochleata (Buch. Ham. ex D. Don), Drynaria quercifolia (L.) J. Smith, Hemionitis arifolia (Burm.) Moore and Pityrogramma calomelanos (L.) Link is perhaps the first report on the phytochemical analysis, clinical trials for anthelmintic efficacy of ferns in naturally infected sheeps (Ovis aries) against Haemonchus contortus. Qualitative phytochemical analysis among the three solvents used viz., Aqueous, Ethanolic and Petroleum ether, ethanolic fern extract performed well to express the phytoconstituents. Quantitative phytochemical analysis indicated a higher tannin and phenolic content in Pityrogramma calomelanos (L.) Link and lower content in Drynaria quercifolia (L.) J. Smith. In vitro study confirmed lesser time taken for paralysis and death of Haemonchus contortus worm in Pityrogramma calomelanos (L.) Link extract unlike the other ferns studied. In vivo clinical trials using Faecal Egg Count Reduction Test on day 0 (pre-treatment) and on day 5, 7, 9 (post-treatment) with ethanolic fern extracts revealed Pityrogramma calomelanos (L.) Link (91%) had better efficacy than Actinopteris radiata (Sw.) Link (84%), Dryopteris cochleata (Buch. Ham. ex D. Don) (78%), Drynaria quercifolia (L.) J. Smith (65%), Acrostichum aureum (Linn) (56%) and Hemionitis arifolia (Burm.) Moore (49%).