Structural changes on an intestinal tapeworm Taenia tetragona caused by Millettia taiwaniania extract

摘要

Millettia taiwaniana Hayata (family Fabaceae) is a medicinal plant used for deworming intestinal helminth infection in the Mizo traditional medicine. The methanol extract of the root bark reportedly contains rotenoids such as cis- 12a-hydroxyretenone,rot-2 -enonic acid, cis-12a-hydroxyrot-2'-enonic and rotenone, which are established as the major bioactive compounds. The plant extract was tested in vitro to evaluate its anthelmintic activity against an intestinal tapeworm, Taenia tetragona. Electronmicroscopy revealed massive destruction on the body surface (tegument). The tegument is extensively eroded throughout the scolex and proglottids. The important sensory and absorptive organs called microtriches present on the tegument were completely lost. Attachment organs known as suckers completely collapsed and the spines were entirely removed. The proglottids were wrinkled and formed numerous blebs all over the tegument. These findings show that the plant extract exhibits anthelmintic activities onintestinal helminth parasites.