Mill. has been used for antimicrobial activity. In the present study, the crude ethanolic extract of the plant and a synthetic compound Sennoside were tested in vitro on to evaluate its potential anthelmintic efficacy through ultrastructural changes. Worms were maintained between rat model and beetle and the test parasites were exposed to different concentrations of crude ethanolic leaf extracts of. Praziquantel was used as a reference drug. Dose dependent efficacy was observed in terms of motility and time of mortality in all treated parasites. Ultrastructural micrography revealed irrevocable destruction all over the body tegument accompanied with sloughing of microtriches and swellings of the basal lamina. Vacuolization of the syncytium along with sparsely cytoplasmic cytons and depletion of parenchymatous layer were observed accompanied by deformities in the cell organelles. Extensive deformities in the tegument indicates that the plant extract alter membrane permeability of the parasite leading to paralysis and subsequent death. Thus, can be regarded as a potential anthelmintic agent.

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Leaf and root extracts of Clerodendrum infortunatum L. have been reported to show anthelmintic efficacy on a cestode parasite Raillietina tetragona. Its leaf showed no toxicity at 1000 mg/kg body weight but root toxicity study was not known. Therefore, our study is to test both leaf and root extracts at 2000 and 3000 mg/kg body weight concentration given orally for 15 days in four groups of Swiss albino mice, keeping another set as control (without plant extract). Weight and behaviour of mice were recorded daily. Feeding, movement pattern were normal in all treatments as that of control. Though body weight increase, there was no change in the relative organ weight. Biochemical and haematological studies revealed no significant change from control and no alteration in histopathological study of liver and kidney from that of control. The plant extracts thus shown to be safe for consumption.

Context:Clerodendrum viscosum Vent. (Verbenaceae) is a shrub, widely used amongst the natives of India against various diseases.Objective: Crude extract of the plant was tested in vitro on a tapeworm Raillietina tetragona Molin (Davaineidae) to evaluate its potential anthelmintic efficacy and ultrastructural changes in the parasite.Materials and methods: Parasites were exposed to different concentrations of ethanolic leaf extract (10–80 mg/mL) and praziquantel (0.0005–0.005 mg/mL) and incubated in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). The pH was 7.4 at 37 °C, while one set of worms was incubated only with PBS as a control. Permanent immobilization of worms was determined visually when no motility occurred on physically disturbing them. The parasites exposed to high concentrations of leaf extract and praziquantel treatments were processed for histological and electron microscopic studies, as these concentrations took the least time for paralysis and death to occur.Result: With an increase in the concentration of the leaf extract from 10 to 80 mg/mL and praziquantel from 0.0005 to 0.005 mg/mL, the time for the onset of paralysis and death was shortened. The treated parasites lost their spontaneous movement rapidly followed by death. Electron microscopic observations revealed disruptions in the tegument and parenchymal layer, accompanied by deformities in cell organelles.Discussion and conclusion: Extensive structural alterations in the tegument indicate that the plant-derived components cause permeability changes in the parasite leading to paralysis and subsequent death. These observations suggest that phytochemicals present in C. viscosum have vermifugal or vermicidal activity, and thus may be exploited as alternative chemotherapeutic agents.

Objective: The present study aims at observing the effects of three species of Senna plants, viz. Senna alata, S. alexandrina and S. occidentalis on the ultrastructure of the mitochondria of the tapeworm, Hymenolepis diminuta.Methods: Worms were treated with leaf extracts of the three plant species with a standard dose concentration of 40 mg/ml and keeping one group of parasites in phosphate buffer saline (PBS) as a control. The parasites from control and treated medium were simultaneously removed after the loss of motility and fixed in 3% gluteraldehyde. They were processed for ultramicrograph observations of the worm's mitochondria with special reference to shape and cytoplasm through transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Results:The study showed loss of architecture in the outer mitochondrial membrane. The inner membrane became distorted with inconspicuous cristae and matrix became lucent in all plant treated worms compared to control. Amongst the three plants, S. alexandrina showed overall distortion in the shape leading to bloating of mitochondria. Conclusion:The observations depict pronounced alterations in the structure of mitochondria, thus signifying depletion of energy synthesis in the parasite. Senna plant could, therefore, be a potent anthelmintic alternative.