Possible Antiparasitic Activities Of Ambrosia Maritima In Experimental Animals

Ambrosia maritima L : (Damsissa) is widely cultivated in Egypt by Ministry of Ag:iculture and Land Reclamation for the sake of its use in the control of snail victors of Belharziasis andFascioliasis found in canals.The phytochemical screening of the aqueous extract of theplant revealed the presence of carbohydrates, catechol tannins,alkaloids and unsaturated sterols. The antiparasitic activities of theplant extract was studied on SOlllt’ fMvitellorum of calves, Ascaridia galli of chickens and, fasciolahepatica in vitro). A special emphasis was directed towardsstudying the effect of the plant extract on coccidia (Eimeria tenella)both in-vitro and in vivo on experimentally infected chickens withfield strain of E. tenella.The effect of the plant extract on different worms was doseand time dependent. The plant extract in concentrations of 20, 40,60, 80 and 100 mg /1 00 ml Ringer’s solution afforded 1000/0killing% on Neo Ascaries vitellorum of calves after 27, 21, 15, 12and 9 hours of exposure respectively. whereas, the . standardanthelmintic drug albendazole failed to produce similar effect sincethe drug elicited 500/0 efficacy when used at a concentration of 50