Abstract

ANTHELMINTIC POTENTIAL OF STEM BARK AND ROOTS OF ALSTONIA SCHOLARIS (L.) R.Br.

Sumitra Singh*, Sanjay and Surendra Kumar Sharma

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, Hisar 125001 (Haryana) India.

ABSTRACT

Chloroform, ethanol and aqueous extracts of Alstonia scholaris (L.) R.Br. stem bark and roots were investigated for the anthelmintic activity against Pheretima posthuma. Various concentrations (6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, 75 and 100 mg/ml) of each extract were tested in the study. All the test extracts showed anthelmintic activity in dose dependent manner. Ethanol extracts (100 mg/ml) of stem bark and roots were more effective with paralytic time 12.160.83 and 14.33 0.84 minutes respectively, death time 21.330.76 and 26.160.79 minutes respectively followed by aqueous extracts and chloroform extracts. Ethanol extract of stem bark exhibited more effective activity than roots extract at all the tested concentrations. Albendazole (20 mg/ml) was used as reference standard while normal saline served as a control. Results were expressed in terms of time of paralysis and time of death. The results supports the use of stem bark and roots of Alstonia scholaris (L.) R.Br. plant as an anthelmintic.

Keywords: Anthelmintic activity, Alstonia scholaris (L.) R.Br., Pheretima posthuma.