Vet Parasitol. 2002 Oct; 109(1-2): 59-63.

Anthelmintic activity of essential oil of Ocimum gratissimum Linn. and eugenol against Haemonchus contortus.

Pessoa LM, Morais SM, Bevilaqua CM, Luciano JH.

Faculdade de VeterinÃ¡ria, Universidade Estadual do CearÃ¡, Av. Parajana, 1700, Campus do Itaperi, Cep. 78900 Fortaleza, CearÃ¡, Brazil.

The ovicidal activity of the essential oil of Ocimum gratissimum Linn. (Labideae) and its main component eugenol was evaluated against Haemonchus contortus, gastrointestinal parasite of small ruminants. The oil and eugenol were diluted in Tween 20 (0.5%) at five different concentrations. In the egg hatch test, H. contortus eggs were obtained from feces of goats experimentally infected. At 0.50% concentration, the essential oil and eugenol showed a maximum eclodibility inhibition. These results suggest a possible utilization of the essential oil of O. gratissimum as an aid to the control of gastrointestinal helmintosis of small ruminants.