IN VITRO EVALUATION OF ANTHELMINTIC ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF LEAVES OF TOONA CILIATA M. ROEM ON INDIAN EARTHWORM.

Helminthiasis is one of the most prevalent and preventable infestations worldwide. Globally about 1.45 million people are infested with soil transmitted helminths with the bulk of the burden shared by developing countries like India. Emerging resistance and accompanying side effects to the currently available anthelmintic drugs is a major concern and newer anthelmintics with novel mode of action is the need of the hour. So, this study has been undertaken for evaluating the anthelmintic activity of ethanolic extract of leaves of Toona ciliata M. Roem (EETC) on Indian earthworms (Pheretima posthuma). The earthworms (5-8 cm in length) were divided into 4 groups with six worms in each group. 2 % gum acacia was used as control (group 1), albendazole 25 mg/ml as standard (group 2) and EETC 25 mg/ml and 50 mg/ml as test drugs in group 3 and 4 respectively. Time taken for paralysis and death of worms were observed individually and recorded. The plant showed significant anthelmintic activity (p<0.001) but less potent than the standard drug.