ABSTRACT
Background: Seaweeds have showed a broad range of biological activities such as antiviral, cardiovascular, autoimmune diseases, antineoplastic antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal activities. Aims and Objectives: This study was done to assess capability of Padina boergesenii and Padina tetrastromatica extract for anthelmintic activity in sheep agonized with clinical parasitic gastroenteritis in different concentrations and compared it against the standard drug albendazole using natural acute/subacute parasitic gastroenteritis due primarily to mixed nematode species. Materials and Methods: The anthelmintic activity of ethanolic extract of seaweed of P. boergesenii was studied in sheep with natural acute/subacute parasitic gastroenteritis due primarily to mixed nematode species. Graded doses of the extract (100, 200, and 300 mg/kg, p.o for 5 consecutive days) significantly reduced fecal egg counts in infected animals. The percentage reduction (96.1%) by 300 mg/kg of the extract was comparable to that of 5 mg/kg of albendazole (94.3%). Results: The administration of the extract resulted in improved hemoglobin and leukocytosis values in worm infected sheep. Conclusion: The current study evidence that the anthelmintic activity of the ethanolic extract of seaweed of P. boergesenii and P. tetrastromatica has promising anthelmintic activity against strongyle, Strongyloides papillosus, and Taenia ovis. However, the anthelmintic activity of P. boergesenii was superior to P. tetrastromatica.