Anthelmintic activity of aerial parts of Costus speciosus

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to evaluate and compare the anthelmintic activity of the methanolic and aqueous extracts of the aerial parts of Costus speciosus in Indian adult earthworms (Pheretima posthuma). The anthelmintic activity of methanolic (25 mg/ml, 50 mg/ml and 100 mg/ml) and aqueous extracts (25 mg/ml, 50 mg/ml and 100 mg/ml) of the aerial parts of Costus speciosus was evaluated using Indian adult earthworms (Pheretima posthuma) as experimental worms. Albendazole (20 mg/ml) was used as standard drug. The anthelmintic potency of the extracts was inversely proportional to the time taken for paralysis or death of the worms. All the results were expressed as a mean±SEM. The aqueous extract showed more significant effect on paralyzing the worms, in terms of paralysis time, at every concentration compared to that of methanolic extract when compared with standard. In case of the methanolic extract at 25 mg/ml, 50 mg/ml and 100 mg/ml concentrations paralysis was observed at 8.10±0.37, 3.97±0.40 and 2.72±0.26 min respectively and death at 8.88±0.40, 4.78±0.32 and 3.70±0.45 min respectively. The aqueous extract at dose of 25 mg/ml, 50 mg/ml and 100 mg/ml produced paralysis within 6.70±0.33, 3.62±0.30 and 2.55±0.27 min respectively while death was observed within 7.48±0.32, 4.48±0.31 and 3.62±0.29 min respectively. The standard drug Albendazole (20 mg/ml) showed paralysis at 11.65±0.51 min and death occurred after 13.67±0.36 min. As Costus speciosus showed significant anthelmintic activity in the experimental study, it can be used as a promising anthelmintic agent. Key words: Albendazole, anthelmintic activity, Costus speciosus, Pheretima posthuma