# Unveiling of phytochemicals, antioxidants, cytotoxic effects and anthelmintic potency of green tea (Camellia sinensis) beverage against albendazole resistant Hamonchus contortus

## TL;DR

Green tea shows strong anthelmintic effects against drug-resistant Haemonchus contortus, a parasite affecting livestock, without harming cell viability.

## Contribution

Green tea beverage is shown to be a safe and effective alternative anthelmintic against albendazole-resistant Haemonchus contortus.

## Key findings

- Green tea exhibited high antioxidant activity and phenolic content, including significant DPPH radical scavenging and ferric reducing power.
- Green tea caused complete inhibition of H. contortus egg hatchability and larval motility at low concentrations.
- Green tea caused structural deformities in H. contortus eggs and larvae and showed no cytotoxic effects on BJ1 cell lines.

## Abstract

Haemonchus contortus remains the main multidrug resistant strongyle threatened livestock productivity. The phytochemical components of green tea beverage (GT) might provide an alternative and sustainable anthelmintic effect. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the anthelmintic effect of GT beverage against albendazole resistant H. contortus from naturally infected sheep. Albendazole resistance was detected through egg hatch inhibition assay. Assessment of GT phytochemicals, antioxidant ability, anthelmintic effect and cytotoxicity MTT (dimethylthiazol-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) colorimetric assay were achieved. The GT was of high Total Phenolic Content; 555.32 mg gallic acid equivalents /g. Remarkable GT antioxidant qualities were noted where, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity (85.14%), DPPH antioxidant activity as 907.57 mg vitamin C/g equivalents, and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (8991.04 µg Trolox/g). High Performance Liquid Chromatography showed rich profile of phenolics mainly catechine (70,190.8 µg/g). A potent anthelmintic activity of the GT was noted at 50 mg/mL; complete inhibition of egg hatchability (LC50; 0.144 mg/mL), significant larval motility inhibition (LC50; 0.127 mg/mL) and severe structural deformity on H. contortus eggs and larvae. Additionally, 100% worm motility inhibition and mortality index 1 were recorded at 400 mg/mL in 2 h incubation (LC50; 13.387 mg/mL). The light and electron scanning microscopy of the treated adult proved distortion in the muscular layer of the cuticle wall with severe degenerative changes. The GT maintained viability of the BJ1 cell lines without cytotoxic effect at (0.78 to 200 µg/mL) concentrations. Overall, green tea beverage could be offered as safe and potent alternative anthelmintic to combat the albendazole-resistance isolates of H. contortus.