IN VITRO ANTHELMINTIC ACTIVITY OF MAYTENUS EMARGINATA STEM BARK ON INDIAN ADULT EARTHWORM

Objective: The development of anthelmintic activity and the high cost of synthetic anthelmintic drugs it leads to the evaluation of medicinal plants as an alternative source of anthelmintics. In the current study, in vitro experiments were conducted to determine the possible anthelmintic effects of crude methanolic, aqueous, and hydroalcoholic extracts of the stem bark of Maytenus emarginata on eggs and adult Pheretima posthuma and Ascaridia galli. Methods: Three concentrations (10, 25, and 50 mg/ml) of methanolic, aqueous, and hydroalcoholic extracts of plant M. emarginata were studied in activity which involved the determination of the time of paralysis (called as vermifuge) and time of death (called as vermicidal) of the worms. Piperazine citrate in same concentration as those of extract was included as standard reference and normal saline water with 1% carboxymethyl cellulose as control. Results: The methanolic, aqueous, and hydroalcoholic extracts exhibited significant anthelmintic activity at a concentration of 50 mg/ml. Peak activity was exhibited by the methanolic extract at a concentration of 50 mg/ml. Conclusion: The overall findings of the present study have shown that M. emarginata contain possible anthelmintic compounds and further evaluation of these plants should be carried out. The traditional use of anthelmintic activity of this plant is genuine

GC-MS profiling and antidepressant-like effect of the extracts of Hamelia patens in animal model

Hamelia patens is used in folk medicine in the treatment of nervous shock. The present study deals to evaluate the antidepressant-like effects of chloroform and methanol extracts of H. patens on the performance of male mice and GC-MS profiling of bioactive extract. Mice were given extracts orally in acute doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg daily for 7 days and then subjected to forced swim test, tail suspension test and open field test. Imipramine (10 mg/kg/day, p.o.) and  fluxetamine (10 mg/kg/day, p.o.) were used as the standard in forced swim test and tail suspension test  respectively. GC-MS profiling of chloroform extract was performed to find out the chemical constituents in bioactive fraction. After one-week treatment, the chloroform extract (100 and 200 mg/kg/day, p.o.) significantly reduced immobility time in forced swim test and tail suspension test (p<0.05). All extracts did not show any significant change in the locomotor activity in open field test. These data indicate that the extract of H. patens possesses antidepressant-like properties in mice without any significant effect on locomotor activity. Video Clip of Methodology: 4 min 06 sec:   Full Screen   Alternat