In vitro Nematicidal (Anthelmintic) Property of the Seed Extracts of Anamirta cocculus (Linn.) Against Pheretima posthuma (L. Vaill.)
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Abstract
Anamirta cocculus is a wild climber having antibacterial and piscicidal properties. Itis used in Ayurvedic and folk medicines. The primary objective of the present studywas to evaluate the in vitro nematicidal or nematodicidal (anthelmintic) activity ofmethanol, chloroform and petroleum ether extracts of the seeds of A. cocculus using theearthworm Pheretima posthuma as an experimental model. After calculating the 1⁄2 an hourLC 50s of all the extracts, the time taken for paralysis as well as death of the worms in eachof the extracts was tested using three concentrations each viz.,10, 15 and 20 mg mL –1 . Allthe three extracts produced significant anthelmintic activities in a dose dependentmanner. The nematicidal activities of the extracts were either significantly higher ormore or less equal to the reference drug Albendazole. Highest nematicidal activity wasshown by the methanol extract (20 mg mL –1 ) with the paralysis and death time of 30.3and 60.2 minutes respectively. Moreover, methanol extract exhibited an increased paralyticas well as nematicidal effect over the reference drug Albendazole at all the givenexperimental concentrations. The results indicated the strong probability of the A.cocculus seeds as the potential raw material for developing an effective nematicide thatmay be highly useful in controlling the plant parasitic nematodes.