Effect of Allium sativum on the Carbohydrate Metabolism of Haemonchus contortus

Gastrointestinal (GI) nematode infections in small ruminants are widely prevalent in Indian sub continent and leads to heavy economic losses to meat and wool industries worldwide, among which a nematode, Haemonchus contortus account for more losses in livestock. In the present investigation, the effect of Allium sativum ethanol extract (AsEE) on the enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism viz. pyruvate kinase (PK), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), malate dehydrogenase (MDH), fumarate reductase (FR) and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) of Hamonchus contortus was studied in vitro. The parasites were incubated in five different sub-lethal concentrations of AsEE viz. 0.005, 0.01, 0.05, 0.1 and 0.5 mg/ml for 2, 4 and 8h. The activity of all the enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism was assayed using standard procedures. The enzyme activity was expressed in terms of protein. The data obtained were analyzed statistically. AsEE significantly inhibited the enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism and the percentage of inhibition was dose and time dependent. Impairment of carbohydrate metabolism in parasitic helminths may be disastrous since they depend almost entirely on it for their energy supply. Consequently, the energy deprived parasite unable to sustain them in situ may be expelled from the host, Hence, AsEE can be used as anthelmintic drug to control haemonchosis.