Antibacterial and anthelmintic potential of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis

A study was conducted to evaluate the free radical scavenging activity (RSA), antibacterial and anthelmintic potential of leaves and fruits of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis (Night Jasmine, Harsingar). In vitro free RSA of the extracts was determined by 2,2-azino bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6- sulfonate) method. Antibacterial potential was assessed by agar well diffusion method using crude aqueous and methanol extracts of leaves and fruits against Escherichia coli. In vitro anthelmintic efficacy of 25% crude extracts was assessed on egg hatch assay (EHA) and larval mortality assay (LMA) at concentrations of 10.0 to 0.01 mg/ml. Geraniol (a monoterpenoid), diethyl phthalate (phalate ester) and phytol (diterpene alcohol) were the main phytochemicals found in methanol extract of both the plant parts. In methanol extract, higher RSA (antioxidant activity) was recorded in leaves (63.93%) as compared to fruits (48.29%). Aqueous extract of both the plant parts showed marked antimicrobial activity against E. coli. Only crude aqueous extracts of leaves and fruits were highly effective (>95%) in preventing embryonation in Haemonchus contortus egg. Crude methanol extract of leaves (@ 1.25 to 0.15 mg/ml) was found to be effective in preventing hatching of H. contortus egg (>98% inhibition of hatching). All the extracts of fruit were effective in preventing egg hatching. On LMA, all the extracts of both plant parts exhibited excellent larvicidal activity. In vivo trial showed significant (P<0.05) reduction in faecal egg counts in the late periods (from days 28 to 42 post-treatment). Significant (P<0.05) reduction in development of infective larvae was observed in faecal cultures set up from sheep fed with crude aqueous extract of fruit on days 10 to 25 post feeding. It was concluded that crude extracts of leaves and fruits of N. arbortristis possessed excellent in vitro antibacterial, anthelmintic and antioxidant activity.