Anthelminthic Activity of Alangium Salvifolium Wang Leaves

Abstract

Helminthiasis is a common problem in many of the tropical countries due to poor management practices. Most diseases caused by helminthes are of chronic and deliberate in nature, and they probably causes more morbidity and greater social and economic deprivation than any other group of parasites. Chemical control of helminthes coupled with improved management practices has been an important worm control strategy throughout the world. Indiscriminate use of synthetic anthelmintics will lead to resistance of parasite and this opens the way for the screening of medicinal plants for their anthelminthic activity. Alangium salvifolium Wang of the family Alangiaceae was commonly known as Ankolam in Malayalam and it is a popular ayurvedic medicine with wide range of Ayurvedic properties. Traaditionaly various parts of the plant were used in the treatment of various disorders like rheumatism, treatment of inflammation, anti hypertensive, antidote for various poisoning, treatment of rabies, worm infestations in children etc… The present study aimed at the screening of leaves of Alangium salvifolium against worm infestation. Successive soxhlet extraction of the leaves were done using different solvents as per their increasing order of polarity and preliminary phytochemical studies were done on all the extracts. This revealed the presence of saponins, glycosides, tannins and polyphenols, flavonoids and triterpenes on various extracts. Anthelminthic activity was studied on the different concentrations of ethanolic and aquous fractions of the extract against Pheritima posthuma ( Indian Earth worm and Ascardia galli (round worm). Piperazine citrate(10mg/ml) was used as the reference standard. Paralysis and death time of the worms were noted. Though all the extracts tested showed significant anthelminthic activity, the aqueous fraction of extract at a concentration of 150mg/ml showed potent activity on comparison with standard.