In Vitro Anthelmintic Activity of Leaf Extracts of Four Different Types of Calamus Species

Abstract

Development of anthelmintic resistance and high cost of conventional anthelmintic drugs led to the evaluation of medicinal plants as an alternative source of anthelmintics. In the present study, methanol, ethanol and chloroform leaf extract of Calamus guruba, Calamus viminalis, Calamus erectus and Calamus tenuis were explored for anthelmintic activity at two concentrations (50 and 100mg/ml), using adult earth worm Pheretima posthuma. All the leaf extracts of Calamus species tested for the anthelmintic activity possess significant activity in a dose dependent manner as compared to the albendazole. The overall findings of the present study have shown that Calamus guruba, Calamus viminalis, Calamus erectus and Calamus tenuis contain possible anthelmintic compounds.

Evaluation of The In-Vitro Anthelmintic Activity of Leucas zeylanica Extracts on Earthworms

“…This results in a decrease in microtubules in the intestinal cells, absorptive function, and uptake of glucose by the adult and larval forms of the helminths thereby depleting glycogen storage. This reduces excitability which leads to muscle relaxation and flaccid paralysis that results in the expulsion of the worm by peristalsis (Das et al, 2017). Based on Table 2, it is evident that all extracts of L. zeylanica showed anthelmintic properties causing death to earthworms at all concentrations however the time taken for paralysis and death vary significantly among extracts.…”

“…This results in a decrease in microtubules in the intestinal cells, absorptive function, and uptake of glucose by the adult and larval forms of the helminths thereby depleting glycogen storage. This reduces excitability which leads to muscle relaxation and flaccid paralysis that results in the expulsion of the worm by peristalsis (Das et al, 2017).…”