Avaliação do efeito anti-helmíntico do hidrolato de Mentha villosa Huds. (Lamiaceae) em nematóides gastrintestinais de bovinos

Abstract

Currently, it has been of great interest to study the anthelmintic activity of medicinal plants in ruminants. Mentha villosa Huds. (Lamiaceae) is an aromatic herb that has been popularly used based on various medicinal properties, including for the control of nematode infections, being piperitenone oxide, the substance present in the essential oil of this plant, possibly responsible for this activity. This study aimed to determine the chemical composition of the essential oil and respective hidrolact of M. villosa through chromatographic analysis and test the anthemintic activity of hidrolact of this plant both in vitro, by the quantitative coproculture method, and in vivo, in calves infected with gastrintestinal nematodes, through the egg count reduction test in feces of the hosts. The chromatographic analysis showed the presence of piperitenone oxide as the major constituent in essential oil and hidrolact of M. villosa (relative levels of 65.16% and 93.62% respectively). In in vitro tests, the hidrolact at the concentrations 40%, 60% and 80% and 100% obtained percentage of effectiveness of 91.88%, 94.15%, 98.40% and 100% respectively, showing significant ovicidal activity against gastrintestinal nematodes in calves. However, the hidrolact of M. villosa showed no in vivo anthelmintic activity at 0,1 ml/Kg/day on the treated animals.