IN VITRO ANTHELMINTIC ACTIVITY OF SOME MEDICINAL PLANT EXTRACTS.

Kalyani Natu, Sayali Mutalik, Shajmeen Attar, Minakshi Nehete and Pratima Tatke*

ABSTRACT

The present study is aimed at investigating the anthelmintic activity of methanol extract of Macaranga peltata stem bark and hydroalcohol extracts of Anacardium occidentale leaves and Anacardium occidentale seed testa on African earthworm, Eudrilus eugenia. Three different concentrations: 30 mg/ml, 50 mg/ml and 100 mg/ml of drug extracts were prepared by suspending the extracts in 1% CMC solution. Albendazole was taken as the reference standard in concentration of 30 mg/ml. Anthelmintic activity was studied by determining the time taken for paralysis (vermifuge) and death (vermicide) of earthworms when placed in a petridish containing 15 ml of three different concentrations of drug solution (30 mg/ml, 50 mg/ml and 100 mg/ml). The study revealed marked anthelmintic activity exhibited by the three extracts.

Keywords: Macaranga peltata, Anacardium occidentale, Eudrilus eugenia, Anthelmintic activity.