Abstract

IN VITRO ANTHELMINTIC SCREENING COMPARISION OF VARIOUS CRUDE EXTRACTS OF THE FRUITS OF CUCUMIS TRIGONUS ROXB. AND CUCUMIS SATIVUS LINN

Subarayan Bothi Gopalakrishnan , Thangaraj Kalaiarasi , Ealumalai Vadivel

Abstract

Anthelmintic activity of the various crude extracts (Petroleum ether (40º-60ºC), benzene, chloroform, ethanol and water) of the fruits of Cucumis trigonus Roxb. and Cucumis sativus Linn. was evaluated on Indian adult earthworms, Pherentima posthuma and compared. Time of paralysis and time of death of the worms were considered as the parameters to assess the anthelmintic action. The results revealed that the ethanolic extracts of both the fruits of Cucumis trigonus and Cucumis sativus showed significant anthelmintic activity at a higher concentration level of 100 mg/ml on time taken for both paralysis and death of the worms when compared to other extracts. Hence the ethanolic extracts of the fruits of Cucumis trigonus and Cucumis sativus were also tested in various doses (80mg, 60mg, 40mg, 20mg). The results revealed that the ethanolic exract of the fruits of Cucumis trigonus showed excellent anthelmintic activity compared to that of Cucumis sativus. Albendazole was used as standard drug.

Keywords: Cucumis trigonus Roxb; Cucumis sativus Linn; Anthelmintic activity; Pherentima posthuma; Albendazole.