Antifilarial activity of Argyria speciosa against Setaria cervi in vitro

The effect of aqueous and alcoholic extracts of Argyria speciosa on the spontaneous movements of both the whole worm and a nerve/muscle preparation of Setaria cervi, and on the survival of microfilariae in vitro, was studied. Both extracts caused the inhibition of spontaneous movements of the whole worm and the nerve/muscle preparation of S. cervi, characterized by decrease in tone, amplitude and rate of contractions. The concentration required to inhibit the movements of the whole worm preparation was 150 μg/mL for the aqueous, and 75 μg/mL for the alcoholic extract. The concentration of A. speciosa extract required to produce an equivalent effect on the nerve/muscle preparation was 25 μg/mL for aqueous, and 50 ng/mL for the alcoholic extract.