Objective: The present study deals with preliminary phytochemical screening of Tamarindus indica extracts and investigates its antiamebic effect against Entamoeba histolytica in vitro. Methods: E. histolytica was isolated from stools of patients with amebic dysentery and cultivated in lock-egg medium. The leaves extract was added to check its antiamebic activity. Results: The phytochemical screening shows that T. indica contains alkaloids, flavonoids, phenol, and tannins. T. indica extracts (aqueous and ethanolic) were added to culture media E. histolytica. It was observed that E. histolytica count reduced to zero after 72 h and 96 h when 15 mg/ml of aqueous and ethanolic extracts were added, respectively. It is also revealed that there is no cytotoxicity against erythrocytes even when high concentration of plant leaves extract is used. Conclusion: The in vitro sensitivity of T. indica leaves extract against the E. histolytica is established.

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Tamarindus indica is one of the medicinal plants used in the treatment of various diseases traditionally. Aims: This study was conducted to identify the phytochemical constituents of T. indica leaf extracts. Methods: Using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to identification of bioactive compounds in extracts of T. indica. Results: The FT-IR spectrum confirmed the presence of alcohol group, alkene group, amine group, carbonates, ethers, carboxylic acid and disulfides in both extracts. A total of 22 and 38 bioactive phytochemical compounds were identified in the ethanolic and aqueous extracts of T. indica, respectively. The major bioactive compounds of the ethanolic extract of T. indica leaves were cis-Vaccenic acid, trans-13-Octadecenoic acid, Oleic Acid, Octadecanoic acid, Octadecanoic acid, 2-(2-hydroxyethoxy) ethyl ester, Eicosanoic acid and Eicosane, 1-Iodo-2-methylundecane, 10-Methylnonadecane. While the major bioactive compounds of the aqueous extract were 3-O-Methyl-d-glucose, Myo-Inositol, 4C-methyl-, Myo-Inositol, 2-C-methyl-, Propane, 2,2-dimethoxy-, 1,3-Dioxolane, Ethanol, 2-(1-methylethoxy)-, and 2-Pentanone, 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-, 2-Hexanol, 2-methyl-, Ethanamine, N-methyl.

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Echinococcosis is a common parasitic disease in humans and ruminants; it is considered as a health and economic problem in most parts of the world. The present study aims to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo scolicidal effects of Psidium guajava extracts on the protoscolices from hydatid cysts of Echinococcus granulosus. Protoscolices were aseptically aspirated from the livers of naturally infected sheep. Various concentrations of the extract were used for 6-48hrs. Eosin staining (0.1%) was used to determine the viability of protoscolices. The findings showed that the extract at the concentrations of 100 mg/ml killed 100% protoscolices after 48 hrs. However, the concentrations of 75 and 50 mg/ml were not effective in killing the protoscolices after 48 hrs. of exposure. The results of this investigation demonstrated that P. guajava could be used as a natural source for the production of new scolicidal agents.