Exploring the in-vitro anthelmintic potential of Hydrolea zeylanica -An aquatic medicinal herb

Abstract

Development of anthelmintic drug resistance and the high cost of conventional anthelmintic drugs are led to the evaluation of medicinal plants as an alternative source of anthelmintics. The present study has undertaken to evaluate the anthelmintic activity of aqueous (HZAE) and methanolic (HZME) extracts of whole plant of Hydrolea zeylanica (L) against Pheretima posthuma. Various concentrations (25‐100 mg/ml.) of aqueous and methanolic extracts were evaluated for the bioassay involving determination of time of paralysis (P) and time of death (D) of the worms. Albendazole (Std.) was used as standard anthelmintic drug and distilled water was used as control. The results of present study indicated that the methanolic (HZME)and aqueous (HZAE) extracts significantly exhibited paralysis (P<0.05) in worms at lower dose (25, 50 and 100mg/ml) and also caused death of the worms especially at higher concentration of 100 mg/ml, as compared to standard drug. The data were verified as statistically analysed using one way ANOVA at 5 % level of significance (p < 0.05). Further studies are in process to isolate the active principles responsible for the anthelmintic activity.