Exploring the in-vitro anthelmintic potential of Hydrolea zeylanica-An aquatic medicinal herb

Development of anthelmintic drug resistance and the high cost of conventional anthelmintic drugs are led to the evaluation of medicinal plants as an alternative source of anthelmintic. The present study was undertaken to evaluate anthelmintic activity of aqueous (AE) and methanolic (ME) extracts of whole plant of Hydrolea zeylanica (L) against Pheretima posthuma. Various concentrations (25–100 mg/ml.) of aqueous and methanolic extracts were evaluated forthe bioassay involving determination of time of paralysis (P) and time of death (D) of the worms. Albendazole(Std.) was used as standardanthelmintic drug and distilled water was used as control. The results of present study indicated that the methanolic and aqueous extractssignificantly exhibited paralysis (P<0.05) in worms in lower doses (25, 50 and 100mg/ml) and also caused death of the worms especially at higherconcentration of 100 mg/ml, as compared to standard drug. The data were verified as statistically significant by using one way ANOVA at 5% level of significance (p < 0.05). Further studies are in process to isolate the active principles responsible for theanthelmintic activity.