Abstract

EVALUATION OF ANTHELMINTIC ACTIVITY OF CAESALPINIA CRISTA LINN. SEED EXTRACTS

Lokesh K. Bhardwaj*, Dr. Kaushal K. Chandrul and Dr. U. S. Sharma

ABSTRACT

Caesalpinia crista Linn. Synonym Caesalpinia bonduc, Caesalpinia bonducella belonging to family Caesalpiniaceae/Fabaceae is a moderately size deciduous tree growing wildly throughout the deciduous forest of India. In Indian traditional plant medicine it is an important remedy for the treatment of several diseases. It is popular in indigenous system of medicine like Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy. The various parts of this plant like leaves, stem, roots and seeds are used as anthelmintic, antidiarrhoeal, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antimalarial, antimicrobial and anticonvulsant in traditional system of medicine. The crude seed extracts of Caesalpinia crista were investigated for their anthelmintic property against Pheretima posthuma and Ascardia galli. Three concentration 5%, 10% and 15% w/v of each extract were studied in the experiment, which involved the determination of time of paralysis and time of death of the worms. Piprazine citrate was included as standard drug and normal saline as control. The result of the present experimental study indicated that all the extract significantly demonstrated paralysis and also caused death of worms at the higher concentration 15% w/v as compared to the standard drug.

Keywords: Anthelmintic, Piperazine citrate, Caesalpinia critas, Pheretima posthuma.