Anthelmintic efficacy of medicinal herbs in goats infected with nematode parasites

Thirty high-percentage Boer does (2.9 ± 0.12 yr; 48 ± 1.9 kg BW) naturally infected with Haemonchus contortus from grazing pasture of Langston University were allocated to 5 groups and moved to a barn to investigate anthelmintic efficacy of three medicinal herbs, Rheum palmatum L. (rhubarb; R), Meliae cortex (melia bark; M), and Quisqualis indica L. (rangoon creeper; Q). Does were given ad libitum access to grass hay and water, along with 200 g/d per doe of a concentrate-based pelleted supplement. Treatments were control (C), R, M, Q, and a 1:1:1 mixture of the three herbs (RMQ). The herbs in powder form were mixed with water at 20 g/100 mL just before drenching. After being acclimated for 7 d, does were drenched with 100 mL of water alone or with the respective herbs at 20 g/d for 10 d. Fecal samples were collected on d 0, 3, 6, 9, 13, and 16 after the start of drenching for worm egg count (FEC). Blood samples were taken on d 0 and 13 for measuring packed cell volume (PCV). Initial FEC was 2,208, 3,933, 3,025, 2,350, and 3,033/g for C, R, M, Q, and RMQ, respectively (SEM = 425.2; P > 0.05). After 10 d of treatment, none of the herbs showed anthelmintic effects. The FEC on d 16 was 1,350, 3,058, 1,525, 825, and 2,067/g for C, R, M, Q, and RMQ, respectively (SEM = 332.9, P > 0.05). Change in PCV was 1.8, 20.1, 9.1, 10.7, and 13.3% for C, R, M, Q, and RMQ, respectively (SEM = 1.68). Compared with C, the PCV value increased in does treated with R and RMQ (P