Screening of antihelminthic effects of Indian plant extracts: a preliminary report.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the antihelminthic effect of plants from the Ayurvedic system of medicine traditionally used in India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six plant extracts were assayed for their activity against free-living nematodes. Inhibitory effects on free-living nematodes were evaluated in vitro using aqueous or ethanolic extracts. CONCLUSIONS: Of six plants assayed, Momordica charantia yielded the best results, its crude extract producing 96% mortality.