Ascariasis is an infection of the small intestine of pigs caused by Ascaris suum, a roundworm.

Humans can also be infected by pig roundworm (Ascaris suum). Ascaris lumbricoides (human
roundworm) and Ascaris suum (pig roundworm) are indistinguishable. It is unknown how many
people worldwide are infected with Ascaris suum. This is already very alarming especially in our
country because livestock farming is one of the most abundant sources of living by Filipinos. If
this trend continues, many livestock pigs and even humans will be affected and it may lead to
their death. It is important that we start looking for alternatives for anthelmintic that we could
use against these parasitic worms.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Parasites – Ascariasis. Retrieved from
https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/ascariasis/index.html.

A study by Bhaduri Lavanya et al. compared the anthelmintic activity of Brassica juncea and
Brassica oleracea against Helminths. It is said in the study that Brassica oleracea is extensively
used as Anthelmintic in order to heal peptic ulcers and slowing down growing cancer cells. The
study aimed to determine the anthelmintic activity of aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts of
seeds of Brassica juncea and the flower of Brassica oleracea. The researchers used various
concentrations of each extracts (100, 150, 200,300,500 mg/ml) and used a positive control
which is the Albendazole. The study also ivolved the determination of time of paralysis (P) and
time of death (D) of the worms. As a result, it was confirmed that seeds of Brassica juncea and
flower of Brassica oleracea could be used as an anthelmintic alternative against helminths or
parasitic worms. It was also mentioned that the hydroalcoholic extract of Brassica juncea and
Brassica oleracea showed a more prominent anthelmintic activity than the aqueous extract.

Lavanya, B., Ramya, K. P. S., S. Nagarjuna, Y. Padmanabha Reddy. ( 2011). In-vitro

comparative study of anthelmintic activity of Brassica juncea and Brassica oleracea. Journal of
Pharmacy Research. 4(9): 2907. Retrieved from http://jprsolutions.info/newfiles/journal-file-
56f758afdd68b4.01519551.pdf.