Abstract

IN-VITRO ANTHELMINTIC ACTIVITY OF EQUISETUM ARVENSE L.

Ansari Sajidul Hoque*, Ghosh Prosun Kanti, Deka Kangkan and Sengupta Subhajit

ABSTRACT

Helminthic infestations are now being recognized as a cause of chronic ill health and sluggishness amongst the children. More than half of the population in the world suffers from worm infestations of one or the other. Equisetum arvense (Family: Equisetaceae) is generally found on river banks, open fields, open woods and fill areas, such as road sides and railroad embankments. The tribal people traditionally use the plant in the treatment of Dysentery, Diarrhoea and also in indigestion. Anthelmintic activity of Aqueous extract of Equisetum arvense was evaluated on adult Indian earthworm Pheretima posthuma and compared with that of albendazole. The extract of Equisetum arvense at the dose of 10, 30 and 60 mg/ml were used. All the doses showed anthelmintic activity but 60 mg/ml dose showed the better pharmacological action than the other doses and it is almost comparable to the standard drug albendazole.

Keywords: Equisetum arvense, Anthelmintic activity, Albendazole.