Abstract

EVALUATION OF ANTHELMINTIC POTENTIAL OF PUNICA GRANATUM FLOWER EXTRACT AND ITS FORMULATION

Shinde M. B.*, Nagarkar R. D., Waghchoure D. R. and Bhutada S. A.

Abstract

The Punica granatum belongs to family Punicaceae. Punica granatum (Pomegranate) plant parts are used traditionaly for the treatment of various disorders such as anthelmintic, antidiebetic and other anctivities. Punica granatum flower extract was used to evaluate the anthelmintic activity. As earthworm (Pheretima posthuma) resembles intestinal parasites, it was selected for in vitro study. The experiment was performed in petri dishes with Pheretima posthuma. For that sterile 7 petri plates were used with different concentration of Punica granatum flower extract (5, 10, 15, 20, 25mg/ml and positive and negative control). The standard drug Albendazole (20mg/ml) was used as positive control while normal saline as negative control. The anthelmintic activity of aqueous extract of Punica granatum flower was showed the longest and shortest time required for paralysis and death which was 5mg/ml and 25mg/ml concentration respectively. This study concludes that the aqueous extract of Punica granatum flower have the anthelmintic activity and can be used against parasitic worm.

Keywords: Flower extract, Punica Granatum, Anthelmintic, Pheretima Posthuma.