Abstract

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF HERBAL EXTRACT AND AYUVEDIC DRUG AS ANTHELMINTHIC AGENTS

Kaspa Saraswathi*, Y. Sushma, P. Mounika and Kondapuram Parameshwar

Abstract

The present work aimed at studying the anthelmintic activities of the methanol extracts of Murraya koneigii They belong to the Rutaceae family and are traditionally used as vermicides. The objective of the study is to compare the efficacy of the plant crude drug extract of the Murraya koneigii with a standard reference Vidangadi churna as control for anthelmenthic acitivity. The anthelmintic activity was evaluated on adult Indian earthworm Pheretima jjosthuma due to its anatomical and physiological resemblance with the intestinal roundworm parasites of human beings. The anthelmintic activities of the methanol extracts of crude drug were compared with the reference control Vidangadi churna.The plant materials were collected and the whole plant shade dried and coarsely powdered and extracted with methanol by maceration. The extract was concentrated to dryness in vacuum. The methanol extracts of crude drug ingredients were screened for preliminary phytochemical studies and tested for anthelmintic activity against Pherititna posthutna. Various concentrations of the extract were prepared and tested for results expressed in terms of time for paralysis and time for death of worms.Further studies are required to evaluate the safety profile of methanolic and aqueous extracts of Rutaceae which would create a safe and economic antihelminthic medicine and that would be beneficial for the patients suffering from the helmenthiasis.

Keywords: Anthelmenthic acitivity, Earthworm, Murraya koneigii, Vidangadi churna, Methanol extracts.