Helminthiases is one of the tropical neglected diseases (NTDs) caused by soil transmitted helminths (STHs). The development of resistance to anthelmintics was observed and so there is an urgent need to discover novel drugs. This study investigates the anthelmintic activity of the Terminalia catappa. Dried fallen leaves of the plant was extracted with petroleum ether, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, methanol and water using microwave assisted extraction (MAE). Anthelmintic activity of the crude extracts were investigated against Haemonchus concortus. Various concentrations (6.25, 12.5, 25, 50 and 100 mg/ml) of each extract and Albendazole were tested in the egg hatch assay and larval mortality assay. The dichloromethane extract displayed the highest egg hatch inhibition percentage of 98.94% at 6.25mg/ml while the methanol extract showed the lowest inhibition of 95.77% at the same concentration. The dichloromethane extract also showed 100% larval reduction at a concentration of 12.5mg/ml after 3 days and 98.9% at the least concentration of 6.25mg/ml. The preliminary phytochemical analysis indicated the presence of various phytoconstituents in all the tested extract. This result confirm the use of Terminalia catappa by traditional healers for the treatment of worm infections.

The present study reports the screening of phytochemical constituents of the leaf extracts of Hyptis spicigera using hexane, ethylacetate and methanol and the leaf powder of the plant. Qualitative analysis of phytochemical constituents showed the presence of the following secondary metabolites vitannins, carbohydrates, saponins, flavonoids, steroids, alkaloids, quinones, coumarin, terpenoids, resins and cardiac glycosides. The quantitative analysis of total phenolics, alkaloids, saponins, terpenoids and flavonoids carried out using standard protocols revealed the presence of flavonoids (8.82%), saponins (6.23%), terpenoids (16.10%), alkaloids (7.55%) and phenolics (20.75%) respectively. Phenolics showed the highest content (20.75%) while saponins (6.23%) gave the least content. The high content of phenolics in the plant showed that H. spicigera plant may contain antioxidant properties and could be a good source of natural antioxidants. Also, the richness in flavonoids, saponins, alkaloids and terpenoids in this plant can be correlated with its medicinal properties used by traditional herbal healers in Northern Nigeria.