Publication

Abstract : The study aimed to investigate potential in vitro anthelmintic activity of methanolic extract of roots of Imperata cylindrica (Poaceae) against Indianearthworms Pheretima posthuma. Various concentrations (10-80 mg/50ml) of the extract were tested, which involved determination of time of paralysisand time of death of the worms. The methanolic extract exhibited a maximum anthelmintic activity (p0.01) comparable to standard drug albendazole(1000 mg/50ml). The extract showed anthelmintic activity in dose dependant manner giving shortest time of paralysis (P) and death (D) with 80mg/mlconcentration and caused paralysis in 3.3 min and death in 6.0 min. The Preliminary phytochemical analysis indicated the presence of variousphytoconstituents in the extract of which tannins and saponins might have contributed for the potent anthelmintic activity.