Dhanapal Venkatachalam

The present study was performed with the objectives of elaborating the larvicidal efficacy of Methanolic extract of Citrullus lanatus (MECL) leaves against Anopheles stephensi, Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes aegypti. It has been reported used widely in traditional herbal medicine. The leaves of Citrullus lanatus is analgesic, anti-inflammatory, mosquitocidal,    gonorrhea and anti-microbial property. The larvicidal activity of plant extract was carried out on late 3rd and early 4th instar larvae of Anopheles stephensi, a primary vector of urban malaria, Culex quinquefaciatus, a common vector of filariasis, Aedes aegypti, common vector of dengue and yellow fever. LC50 and LC90 of MECL were determined against Anopheles stephensi, Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes aegypti by using Abbott’s formula. LC50 and LC 90 of MECL against Anopheles stephensi were found to be 84.23ppm & 989.396ppm. LC50 and LC90 of MECL against Culex quinquefasciatus were found to be 51.31ppm &405.88ppm. The LC50 was found to be 2645ppm or 2.645%v/v for Aedes agypti. The LC90 value was found to be 138326ppm or 138.326%v/v for Aedes agypti The results of the present study suggest that methanolic extract of Citrullus lanatus showed promising larvicidal activity against important vectors of malaria, filarial, dengue, dengue haemorrhagic fever, yellow fever, chikungunya.

The objective of the study was to evaluate anthelmintic activity on adult Indian earthworm Phertima posthuma   in various extracts from the bark of   Zizyphus jujuba.  Z..jujuba commonly called, Red Date or Chinese date or Bera (Pushto), belonging to family Rhamnaceae, is used primarily for its fruits. Jujube, a delicious fruit, is an effective herbal remedy improving stamina and muscular strength and aids weight gain, strengthens liver function and increases immune system resistance. The dried bark of Zizyphus jujuba was powdered and extracted with various solvents by successive soxhlet hot extraction process with increasing order of polarity. The various   extracts were screened for anthelmintic activity on adult earthworms Phertima posthuma, using piperazine citrate as standard drug. The results revealed that the methanol extract of Zizyphus jujuba bark showed anthelmintic activity at a concentration of 20 mg/ml, whereas the aqueous extract of Z.jujuba bark also showed paralysis and death at similar concentrations. The other test concentrations of both the extracts showed marked degree of anthelmintic activity. The anthelmintic effect of methanol extract at 40 mg/ml concentration is comparable with that of the effect produced by the standard drug piperazine citrate. The methanol extract showed the effect beyond 80 mg/ml concentration that is comparable with the standard drug Piperazine citrate. The methanol extract was more effective than the other extracts. The activity of the extracts was found to be inversely proportional to the time taken for paralyse or death of the earth worms. The active principles responsible for anthelmintic activity is due to the presence of flavonoids, steroids and tannins in the extracts. The results concludes the methanol extract was more anthelmintic activity   than the other extracts. Keywords:  Zizyphus jujuba, Anthelmintic activity, Phertima posthuma, Piperazine citrate