Abstract

ANALYSIS OF ANTHELMINTIC ACTIVITY OF CRATEVA UNILOCULARIS BUCH.-HAM. LEAF

Krishna Hari Pandey*, Prakash Khadka, Subindra Kazi Thapa, Pinky Baral, Arpana Pandit, Sushil Panta

ABSTRACT

Cratevaunilocularis (Capparaceae), commonly known as siplegan in Nepal and widely distributed throughout at an altitude of 100 - 1800 meters, is popularly known for its anthelmintic property in local area and in Ayurveda system of medicine. Present study was done to rationalize its traditional use. Anthelmintic activity of methanolic extract of C. unilocularis leaves was performed on adult earthworms viz Pheretima posthuma and Eisenea foetida. Test solutions of the main methanolic extract of C. unilocularis leaves were prepared at the concentrations of 10, 20 and 50 mg/ml in normal saline. Albendazole (20 mg/ml) was used as reference standard and normal saline was used as negative control. Each test worms P. posthuma and E. foetida were divided into five groups, each consisting of six adult worms of same size and type. Each group of six worms were placed in 25 ml of test and standard solutions. Physical activity of the worms was observed and the time taken for complete paralysis and death were recorded. All the test extracts exhibited significant paralytic and lethal actions in a concentrationdependent manner. Extract of concentration 50 mg/ml showed mean paralysis time and mean death time of 21.67 minutes and 25.67 minutes respectively to P. posthuma and 17.5 minutes and 22.16 minutes respectively to E. foetida. The result supports the traditional use of this plant as an anthelmintic and thus has a high potential for the isolation of anthelmintic compounds.

Keywords: Crateva unilocularis, anthelminth, Nepal, Ayurveda.