Phytochemical Screening and Anthelmintic Activity of Erythrina mysorensis Gamb.

In the present study the Petroleum ether (60–80), chloroform, alcohol and aqueous extracts of Erythrina mysorensis Gamb, stem bark were investigated for anthelmintic activity. The anthelmintic activity of extracts at three different concentrations (0.1, 0.5 and 1%) was tested on Pheretima posthuma (Indian Earth worm) and Ascaris galli (Fowl round worm) and compared with Albendazole citrate. The extracts were studied in a bioassay which involved the determination of time of paralysis and time of death of the worm. The results of the anthelmintic activity revealed that, all the test groups exhibited moderate to significant anthelmintic activity. Further, among the four extracts ethanolic and aqueous extracts proved to be more effective when compared to other two extracts in terms of anthelmintic activity for both the parameters studied in both the worms. The phytochemical screening of the extracts revealed the presence of secondary metabolites like glycosides, alkaloids, steroids, flavonoids, tannins, triterpenoids and saponins etc.