Abstract:
Helminthiasis has medical and veterinary health concerns globally. The
development of resistance against synthetic anthelmintic medicines is a major
constraint. This leads to a demand for medicinal plants and their products as
potential natural substitutes for synthetic drugs. The present study examined
the medicinal herbs that possess anthelmintic potential, as an alternative
remedy for conventional drugs which was tested on the earthworm, Eisenia
fetida. Crude methanolic seed extracts of Nigella sativa and Panicum
antidotale and methanol and aqueous leaves extracts of Justicia gendarussa
and Clerodendrum phlomidis were tested with different concentrations on E.
fetida in vitro. All forms of extracts exhibited significant anthelmintic activity
(p<0.01). Dosage dependent decreased paralysis and death time were found
when compared with Albendazole. A higher concentration of methanolic seed
extract of P. antidotale (5%) took less time for paralysis and death of the worm
at 3.61 ± 0.33 min and 8.35 ± 0.19 min, respectively when compared to N.
sativa. Methanolic leaf extracts were more potent than aqueous leave extracts
where methanolic leave extracts of J. gendarussa (30 mg/ml) took less time,
65 ± 0.27 min and 137 ± 0.14 min for paralysis and death of the worm,
respectively. The finding from this study shows that methanol extract was
more potential than aqueous extracts and increasing concentration of extracts
were more potential for anthelmintic activity. The presence of phytochemical
properties like alkaloids, tannins, glycosides, flavonoids and saponins
exhibited significant anthelmintic potential of N. sativa, P. antidotale, J.
gendarussa and C. phlomidis with natural protective source.
