ANTHELMINTIC EFFECT OF CITRULLUS COLOCYNTHIS ON THE TEGUMENT OF COTYLOPHORON COTYLOPHORUM BY LIGHT MICROSCOPE

The anthelmintic effect of alcoholic Citrullus colocynthis fruit extract on the tegument of Cotylophoron cotylophorum was studied by light microscopy. Live amphistome Cotylophoron cotylophorum flukes were collected from the infected rumen of freshly slaughtered domestic buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) at the local zoo abattoir in Udaipur. The control and anthelmintic treated C. cotylophorum with the alcoholic C. colocynthis fruit extract, and flukicide drug albendazole were fixed in Bouin’s fixative for histological study. The present studies revealed the alcoholic Citrullus colocynthis fruits extract effect on the tegument of flukes; showed abundant cuticular disruption, detachments, discontinuous, blebbing, clumping of parenchymal cell and the complete breakdown of cells in the parenchyma leaving vacuolated areas. Albendazole is less effective than alcoholic Citrullus colocynthis fruit extract. This study suggests that the alcoholic extract of the fruit of C. colocynthis could offer a suitable and cheaper alternative anthelmintic as a comparison to synthetic drugs. The results of this study will help to prepare the eco-friendly, less costly anthelmintic veterinary drug and socio-economic upliftment of cattle farmers.