Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology

Modern anti-helmintics has limited the effective control of the parasites due to number of side effects and development of resistsnt in helminthes. This renewed the interest in screening of medicinal plants for their anti-helmintic activity and the present study was design to invastigate the In vitro anthelmintic activity of hydroalcoholic extract of Martynia annua L. and Pentanema indicum.

Nine groups each containing three adult Indian earthworms(Phentanema posthuma) of approximately same size were received into 20ml of desired formulation. I group was treated with normal saline and II group was treated with albendazole (20mg/ml) in 1% w/v of CMC as standard and III, Iv and V group was concentrations of hydroalcoholic extracts of Martynia annua L. 10, 20, 50mg/ml and VI,VII and VIII group was concentrations of hydroalcoholic extracts of Pentanema indicum 10,20,50mg/ml in 1% w/v of CMC. Last ninth group was treated with combination of Martynia annua L. and Pentanema indicum (50mg/ml and 50mg/ml).

Both the extracts show a dose dependent reduction in paralysis and death time of the worm, combination of Martynia annua L. and Pentanema indicum 1:1 ratio extrcat was found to be more effcetive especially at 50mg/ml and 50mg/ml.

The anti-helmintic activity of extracts was comparable to standard Albentazole, and could be effective against parasitic helminths of humans and animals. The presence of alkoloid, flavonoids, tannins and phenol in the extracts may be contributory to its anti-helmintic activity.