In-Vitro Anthelminthic activity of Caesalpinia bonducella Root Bark on Pheretima postuma and Ascaris gallis

In developing countries as India, helminth infections are a common health problem. These infections can affect most population in endemic areas with major economic and social consequences. The gastro-intestinal helminthes becomes resistant to currently available anthelmintic drugs therefore there is a foremost problem in treatment of helminthes diseases. Hence there is an increasing demand towards natural anthelmintics. Caesalpinia bonducella is a species of flowering plant belongs to Caesalpinaceae. It has also been found to posses multiple therapeutic properties like antipyretic, antidiuretic, anthelmintic, antibacterial, anticonvulsant, anti-anaphylactic, antidiarrheal, antiviral, antiasthmatic, antiamoebic and antiestrogenic.

So the objective of the present work was to evaluate the in-vitro anthelmintic potency of the ethanolic and aqueous extract of root bark of Caesalpinia bonducella (Linn.) using Indian earthworms (Pheretima posthuma) and nematodes (Ascaris Gallis). Various concentrations (25, 50, 100mg/ml) of extracts were tested in-vitro for anthelmintic potency by determination of time of paralysis (P) and time of death (D) of worm. Piperazine citrate (15mg/ml) used as standard drug. Both the extracts exhibited significant anthelmintic activity at concentration of 100 mg/ml. Thus, from the results we can conclude that the Caesalpinia bonducella has a great potential in the treatment of helmintic infections.