anthelmintic activity

Strongyloides stercoralis is a persistent pathogenic roundworm commonly known as “hidden killer”. Its ability to replicate in human host, cyclic autoinfection that can last for years and asymptomatic behavior make theranostics difficult. Ajuga integrifolia is a shrub that is traditionally claimed to possess a very potent effect against persistent gastrointestinal ailments. The objective of this study was to analytically investigate the anthelmintic activity of methanolic extract of aerial parts of A. integrifolia on rhabditiform larvae of S. stercoralis. The larvae were isolated from fresh stool samples obtained from school children diagnosed to be positive for the parasite. The anti-S. stercoralis effect of the extract (in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS): sterile, pH = 7.2, 1.7 mM) against rhabditiform larvae was evaluated by incubating the suspension of the parasites in PBS with different concentrations of the extract for 24 h at 37 0C in a 5 % CO2 humidified incubator to determine % survival. A concentration dependent killing effect with an IC50 value of 50 mg/mL was recorded. The sensitivity and immediacy of action proved a potential commercial value of the plant for treatment against human strongyloidiasis.

Medicinal plants and their secondary metabolites have been used since last few centuries as remedies to treat diseases and disorders. As per WHO report (1993), 80% of world population continues to depend on medicine isolated from medicinal plants. Presently there is an increasing interest in herbal medicine related to isolation, characterization and pharmacological screening of extracts obtained from medicinal plants. The ethanolic extract of Leucas indica var. martinicensis was studied for preliminary phytochemical screening and anthelmintic activity at various concentrations (i.e., 10mg/ml, 25mg/ml, 50mg/ml, 100mg/ml) by using adult Indian earth worm, pheretima posthuma from in nalgonda region. Phytochemical Screening revealed the presence of Alkaloids, carbohydrates, and saponins. The mean paralysis time and mean death time for each sample was calculated and compared with the Albendazole which is taken as standard. The result was found that Leucas indica var. martinicensis had an anthelmintic activity which was greater than standard Albendazole.