Der Pharmacia Lettre
Abstract
Author(s): Lipi Purwal, Vivek Shrivastava, Krishna K Makode, Umesh K Jain
Helmintic infections are now being recognized as cause of chronic ill health and sluggishness
amongst the tropical people. The aim of present study was to evaluate anthelmintic prospective
of crude aqueous extracts of some saponins containing medicinal plants. The dried roots and
leaves of W. somnifera and dried flowers and leaves of C. officinalis were used for the
preparation of the extracts. Four concentrations (2, 4, 6 and 8 mg/ml) of aqueous extracts were
investigated for in vitro anthelmintic activity employing Indian adult earthworms (Pheretima
posthuma), which involved determination of time paralysis (P) and the time of death (D) of the
worms. Albendazole (10 mg/ml) was included as standard reference and distilled water as
control. All the four aqueous extracts of roots and leaves of W. somnifera (L.) and dried flowers
and leaves of C. officinalis (L.) showed significant anthelmintic activity. All the investigated
extracts showed significant difference (p<0.001) against negative control. The study confirmed
the anthelmintic potential of these extracts and further studies are suggested to isolate the
saponins and other active principles responsible for the activity.
