SENNA PLANT INDUCES DISRUPTION ON THE MITOCHONDRIA OF HYMENOLEPIS DIMINUTA

Objective: The present study aims at observing the effects of three species of Senna plants, viz. Senna alata , S. alexandrina and S. occidentalis on the ultrastructure of the mitochondria of the tapeworm, Hymenolepis diminuta . Methods: Worms were treated with leaf extracts of the three plant species with a standard dose concentration of 40 mg/ml and keeping one group of parasites in phosphate buffer saline (PBS) as a control. The parasites from control and treated medium were simultaneously removed after the loss of motility and fixed in 3% gluteraldehyde. They were processed for ultramicrograph observations of the worm’s mitochondria with special reference to shape and cytoplasm through transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Results: The study showed loss of architecture in the outer mitochondrial membrane. The inner membrane became distorted with inconspicuous cristae and matrix became lucent in all plant treated worms compared to control. Amongst the three plants, S. alexandrina showed overall distortion in the shape leading to bloating of mitochondria. Conclusion: The observations depict pronounced alterations in the structure of mitochondria, thus signifying depletion of energy synthesis in the parasite. Senna plant could, therefore, be a potent anthelmintic alternative.