Immunomodulatory assessment of methanolic extracts of Hippophae rhamnoides, H. salicifolia and Piper longum in comparison to standard Levamisole against migratory behaviour of Toxocara canis larvae in murine model

Toxocara canis owns an exceptional ability to withstand host's immune system by encystment of larval stages into host's tissue and thus, paving way for anthelmintic ineffectiveness against the larval stages of the parasite. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of three herbal (methanolic extracts of Hippophae rhamnoides, H. salicifolia and Piper longum) and one allopathic (levamisole) immunomodulators on the migratory behaviour of Toxocara canis larvae in tissues of Swiss albino mice, experimentally infected with T. canis embryonated eggs on day 14 of immunomodulatory medication. Larval migration studies of T. canis by tissue digestion method in various organs of experimentally infected mice, at days 14 and 28 post infection revealed H. salicifolia to be a superior immunomodulator followed by H. rhamnoides, levamisole and P. longum.