ANTHELMINTIC ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF JATROPHA CURCAS ROOT

Despite the availability of several allopathic medicines, a large number of people continue to rely on nature, which has bestowed upon humans an abundance of medicinal plants for both illness prevention and treatment. The mechanism of action of anthelmintic medications is to either kill or immobilize the parasite so that the host's immune system can eradicate it. Since the currently available anthelmintics, like albendazole and mebendazole, show several negative effects, including elevated liver enzyme and hematological effects, etc., the current study looked into the plant Jatropha curcas, which is claimed to be useful as an anthelmintic but hasn't been scientifically validated. The phytochemical studies on the root of Jatropha curcas were carried out to demonstrate its importance as a valuable medicinal plant. The extract was subjected to preliminary phytochemical analysis. The preliminary screening reveals the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, steroids, tannins, and triterpenoids. Studies involving the ethanolic root extract of Jatropha curcas were conducted in vitro in pharmacology. Worm paralysis time was used to measure anthelmintic activity. As a result, the study's findings indicate that Jatropha curcas roots have strong anthelmintic action.

Keywords: Jatropha curcas, Anthelmintic activity, Euphorbiaceae.