In vitro anthelmintic activity of Peganum harmala L. against Fasciola gigantica

ABSTRACT

In the present work, the seeds of the medicinal plant Peganum harmala L.were extracted by both water and methanol to evaluate their in vitro anthelmintic activity against fasciola gigantica. RPMI 1640 medium was used for maintenance of the parasite in culture. The highest concentrations of the seeds aqueous extract of Peganum harmala of 15000 and 5000 ppm gave 100% mortality one hour after the parasite exposure to the extract. The lower concentrations had revealed no effect against the parasite, except the concentration 1000 ppm which gave 25% mortality in the second hour and reached 100% mortality after the 6th. hour of exposure. The seed methanolic extract of Peganum harmala was significantly [P<0.001] potent and revealed mortality at both 1000 and 500 ppm as follows 17, 17, 83, 100 and 100% and 0, 0, 17, 66, 83% respectively, at the exposure times of 1, 2, 3, 6 and 24 hours