Anti-helmintic Activity of Myrtus communis L. Fruit Ethanol Extract on Nematodes of Caenorhabditis elegans and The Determination of Possible Active Ingredients

Abstract

Myrtus communis L. (Myrtaceae) is a plant widely found in the Middle East and Mediterranean region, both naturally grown and cultivated. In our study, C. elegans nematodes were used as an anti-helminthic model and by determining the anti-helmintic effect of Myrtus communis L. fruit, it was aimed to find the active ingredients with possible anti-helmintic effects by GC-MS analysis. In our study, the anthelmintic effect of the ethanol extract of Myrtus communis L. fruit on C. elegans was investigated. Ethanol fruit extracts were added to NGM separately at final volume of 10 mg/mL, 5 mg/mL, 2.5 mg/mL, 1.25 mg/mL and experimental groups were formed. When the data were evaluated statistically, the difference between all experimental groups, negative control group and positive control group (pyrantel pamoate), was significant (p<0.05). According to the results of GC-MS analysis, the highest detected ingredients were 1,8-Cineole (3.46%), Linalyl acetate (3.06%), and Palmitic acid (2.90%). It was observed that Myrtus communis L. fruit extract was more effective on C. elegans nematodes than pyrantel pamoate at the same concentration (5 mg/mL), and 20 different active ingredients were determined according to our GC-MS analysis results. By studying the forms of these active ingredients separately or in different combinations, the ingredients and combinations with the strongest anti-helmintic activity can be determined, and it is thought that our findings may lead to further studies.

Keywords

• Myrtus communis L.
• Caenorhabditis elegans
• anti-helmintic effect
• 1.8-Cineole
• Linalyl acetate
• Palmitic acid

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