Qualitative Phytochemical Screening and In-vitro Anthelmintic Activity of Adhatoda vasica (Acanthaceae)

Abstract

Adhatoda vasica, commonly known as malabar nut, is a part of the Acanthaceae plant family. It has been used for a multitude of disorders including; bronchitis, leprosy, blood disorders, heart troubles, thirst, asthma, fever, vomiting, loss of memory, leucoderma, jaundice, tumors, mouth troubles, sore-eye, fever, and gonorrhea. In the present study, qualitative analysis of Phytochemicals of leaf, stem and root of Adhatoda vasica by using different solvents such as hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethanol and aqueous and then anthelmintic activity of leaf extract of Adhatoda vasica was done. The result shows that, of the 10 phytochemicals screened, all the 10 compounds such as quinones, coumarins, terpenoids, phenols, saponins, flavonoids, volatile oils, resins, gums and mucilages and tannins were found present in the ethanolic leaf extract of Adhatoda vasica than the other parts. Helminthes infections are commonly found in community and being recognized as cause of much acute as well as chronic illness among the various human beings as well as cattle's. A number of medicinal plants have been used to treat parasitic infections in man and animals. Anthelmintics derived from plants can be a solution to this world wide problem as they form safe and non-toxic agents with an altered site of action. In the present study, anthelmintic activity of leaf of Adhatoda vasica by using different solvents such as hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethanol and aqueous was done. The anthelmintic property of Adhatoda vasica was evaluated using Pheretima pothuma as an experimental model. Albendazole was used as the standard reference. Different concentrations (16.6, 33.3, 83.3 mg/ml) of all extracts of Adhatoda vasica were tested and results were expressed in terms of time for paralysis and time for death of worms. Ethanolic leaf extract of Adhatoda vasica shows less time of paralysis and death of the earthworm compared to other extracts such as hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, aqueous and the standard albendazole. The wormicidal activity of various extracts of leaf of Adhatoda vasica suggests that it is effective against parasitic infections of humans.