10.6084/M9.FIGSHARE.C.6283832
Francesca Shepherd
Francesca
Shepherd
Scotland's Rural College
University of Edinburgh
Caroline Chylinski
Caroline
Chylinski
Scotland's Rural College
Michael R. Hutchings
Michael R.
Hutchings
Scotland's Rural College
Joana Lima
Joana
Lima
Scotland's Rural College
Ross Davidson
Ross
Davidson
Scotland's Rural College
Robert Kelly
Robert
Kelly
University of Edinburgh
Alastair Macrae
Alastair
Macrae
University of Edinburgh
Juha-Pekka Salminen
Juha-Pekka
Salminen
University of Turku
Marica T. Engström
Marica T.
Engström
University of Turku
Veronika Maurer
Veronika
Maurer
Forschungsinstitut für Biologischen Landbau
Håvard Steinshamn
Håvard
Steinshamn
Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research
Susanne Fittje
Susanne
Fittje
Naturland
Angela Morell Perez
Angela Morell
Perez
Rocío Rosa García
Rocío Rosa
García
Servicio Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario
Spiridoula Athanasiadou
Spiridoula
Athanasiadou
Scotland's Rural College
Comparative analysis of the anthelmintic efficacy of European heather extracts on Teladorsagia circumcincta and Trichostrongylus colubriformis egg hatching and larval motility
Abstract Background Gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) control is traditionally achieved with the use of anthelmintic drugs, however due to regulations in organic farming and the rise in anthelmintic resistance, alternatives are sought after. A promising alternative is the use of bioactive plant feeding due to the presence of plant secondary metabolites (PSMs) such as proanthocyanidins (PAs). This study focussed on the perennial shrub heather (Ericaceae family), a plant rich in PAs, highly abundant across Europe and with previously demonstrated anthelmintic potential. Methods In vitro assays were used to investigate heather’s anthelmintic efficacy against egg hatching and larval motility. Heather samples were collected from five European countries across two seasons, and extracts were tested against two GIN species: Teladorsagia circumcincta and Trichostrongylus colubriformis. Polyphenol group-specific ultraperformance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis was performed to identify relevant polyphenol subgroups present, including the PA concentration and size and ratio of the subunits. Partial least squares analysis was performed to associate efficacy with variation in PSM composition. Results Heather extracts reduced egg hatching of both GIN species in a dose-dependent manner by up to 100%, while three extracts at the highest concentration (10 mg/ml) reduced larval motility to levels that were not significantly different from dead larvae controls. PAs, particularly the procyanidin type, and flavonol derivatives were associated with anthelmintic activity, and the particular subgroup of polyphenols associated with the efficacy was dependent on the GIN species and life stage. Conclusions Our results provide in vitro evidence that heather, a widely available plant often managed as a weed in grazing systems, has anthelmintic properties attributed to various groups of PSMs and could contribute to sustainable GIN control in ruminant production systems across Europe. Graphical Abstract
Biochemistry
Biotechnology
Ecology
69999 Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
figshare
2022
2022-11-05
2022-11-05
Collection
10.1186/s13071-022-05531-0
CC BY 4.0