Evaluation of Anthelmintic Activity of Cassia tora L. Leaves against Pheretima Posthuma

Helminthic diseases have a worldwide distribution. Development of resistance to anthelmintic drugs has led to the evaluation of medicinal plants as an alternative source of anthelmintics in the present study aqueous extracts of Cassia tora L. leaves were evaluated for in-vitro anthelmintic activity at concentrations of 10, 25 and 50 mg/ml against Pheretima posthuma obtained from the soil. Results were expressed in terms of time for paralysis and time for death of worm. Albendazole (10mg/ml) was used as reference standard. Aqueous extract at concentration of 10 mg/ml showed comparable anthelmintic activity with standard while aqueous extracts of concentration 25 and 50 mg/ml found to be more potent than albendazole. The obtained results provide a support for the use of this plant in traditional medicine and suggest its further investigation.