ABSTRACT
Aims: To evaluate the anthelminthic activity of Annona reticulata seeds extracts against Pheretima posthuma. Study Design: Helminth infections have tormented humans and animals for thousands of years. The indiscriminate uses of the anthelminthic drugs have lead to the emergence of resistant helminths against many anthelminthic agents. Thus the need for the treatment of helminthic infections and the prevention of the emergence of resistant strains has led to the screening medicinal plants for their anthelminthic activity. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Biotechnology, The Oxford College of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, India, between January 2012 and March 2012. Methodology: The main aim of the present exploratory study is to evaluate the anthelminthic activity of A. reticulata seeds extracts. The in vitro studies revealed that the anthelminthic effects of crude chloroform and ethanolic extracts of A. reticulata on Pheretima posthuma was evident from induction of paralysis and mortality. Piperazine citrate was used as the standard reference drug and normal saline as a control group. Results: Among all the concentrations of chloroform and ethanolic extracts tested, 12.5 mg/ml showed significant (p<0.01) anthelminthic activity. The results indicated that the ethanolic extract of A. reticulata is a more potent anthelminthic agent against Pheretima posthuma when compared with chloroform extract but less potent when compared with the standard drug. Conclusions: The results of this investigation justifies the use of the seed extracts of A. reticulata in traditional medical practice for the treatment of helminth infections.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the anthelminthic and bactericidal activity of Flaveria trinervia. Study design: Assessment of Anthelminthic and bactericidal activity. Place and Duration of Study: Anthelminthic and bactericidal activity of extracts from Flaveria trinervia Spring C. Mohr. between August 2010 and May 2011. Methodology: The methanol and aqueous extracts of Flaveria trinervia were screened for antibacterial activity against 20 clinical strains belonging to Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella paratyphi, Echerichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus isolated from different infectious sources. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assay of both the extracts was carried out against clinical isolates using two fold agar dilution method. Ciprofloxacin and piperazine citrate were used as the standard reference for bactericidal and anthelminthic activity respectively. Results: Evaluation of anti-bacterial activity revealed that both the extracts showed effective activity against all the six bacterial pathogens. Specifically, aqueous extract was more efficient than methanol extract but less potent than standard drug ciprofloxacin. Among the various concentrations of aqueous extract tested, 250 mg/ml showed efficient anthelminthic activity and among all the concentrations methanol extract tested 250 mg/ml gave significant results. This investigation revealed that methanol extract of F. trinervia showed significant anthelminthic activity against Pheretima posthuma when compared to the aqueous extract. Conclusion: From the results of this investigation we can conclude that F. trinervia is a potent antibacterial and anthelminthic plant.