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Title: Anthelmintic potential of chicory forage is influenced by sesquiterpene lactone composition

Author
item Foster, Joyce
item Cassida, Kimberly
item Turner, Kenneth

Submitted to: American Forage and Grassland Council Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/16/2010
Publication Date: 6/21/2010
Citation: Foster, J.G., Cassida, K.A., Turner, K.E. 2010. Anthelmintic potential of chicory forage is influenced by sesquiterpene lactone composition. In: Proceedings and Abstracts of the American Forage and Grassland Council, June 21-23, 2010, Springfield, MO. CDROM.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The anthelmintic activity of chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) herbage has been attributed to sesquiterpene lactones (SLs). Chicory leaves contain lactucin (LAC), 8-deoxylactucin (DOL), and lactucopicrin (LPIC), but the amounts of these three SLs vary among cultivars. The objective of this study was to investigate how SL composition impacts the anthelmintic potential of chicory. Sesquiterpene lactone-enriched fractions were prepared from two cultivars, Grasslands Puna (Puna) and Forage Feast, and used to investigate their effect on the hatching of eggs of barberpole worm (Haemonchus contortus), a gastrointestinal nematode that infects small ruminants. The Puna extract, which was dominated by DOL (51%), was more effective (the concentration of SLs required to inhibit the hatching of 50% of the eggs (LC50) = 2.64 mg/mL) than the Forage Feast extract (LC50 = 6.44 mg/mL) in which LAC was most prevalent (60%). The amount of LPIC was similar in the two extracts. The higher concentration of SLs in Forage Feast leaves was not sufficient to compensate for the smaller proportion of DOL. Thus, SL composition, as well as total SL concentration, is an important consideration when selecting a chicory cultivar for use in a bioactive pasture for control of barberpole worms in sheep and goats. Cultivars that have a high concentration of DOL may be especially useful.