Abstract

EVALUATION OF ANTHELMINTIC ACTIVITY OF ALCOHOLIC EXTRACT AND AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF PLANT DACTYLOCTENIUM AEGYPTIUM

Deepu Raveendran*, Chithra P., Saadha Mubashira, Saswatha P., Thejaswini A.

ABSTRACT

The study aims to evaluate the anthelmintic activity of alcoholic and aqueous extracts of Dactyloctenium aegyptium, a plant known for its traditional medicinal uses. The plant’s potential to combat parasitic worm infections was assessed using in vitro bioassays, including observations on the time taken for paralysis and death of the worms (Earthworms), which serve as a model for evaluating anthelmintic efficacy. Both extracts were prepared using standard extraction methods: alcohol (Ethanol) for the alcoholic extract and distilled water for the aqueous extract. The extracts were tested at various concentrations (10, 25, 50 mg/ml) and compared with a standard anthelmintic drug, Albendazole. The results demonstrated a dose-dependent activity of both extracts, with the alcoholic extract showing a stronger anthelmintic effect than the aqueous extract. The alcoholic extract at higher concentrations exhibited faster paralysis and death in the worms compared to the aqueous extract, indicating its higher efficacy. The findings suggest that Dactyloctenium aegyptium possesses significant anthelmintic potential, particularly when extracted with alcohol, and could be further explored as a natural alternative for controlling parasitic infections.

Keywords: Dactyloctenium aegyptium, Albendazole, Anthelmintic activity.