In Vitro Anthelmintic Efficacy of Fractions from Plumbago zeylanica L (Family- Plumbaginnaceae) Root Extract

Abstract

Unlike synthetic drugs plants have different phytochemical constituents which can act collectively by which helminthes cannot resist them or there could be active constituent(s) in the plant with superior potency. The aim of this study was to investigate the anthelmintic activity of both crude and fractions of Plumbago zeylanica root extract for the purpose of finding long lasting and potent medicinal plant due to significant implications of helminthes in developing countries like Ethiopia. And where traditional medicine is wide spread and of immediate alternative. In the assay, chloroform crude extracts recorded less paralysis and death time than ethanolic crude extracts. Then crude extract was subjected to column chromatography from which nine pure compounds were isolated. In addition, the isolated compounds were higher in their anthelmintic activity than crude extracts at almost all concentrations. Both crude and fractions paralyse and kill the worms with less time than that of the positive control and even less than 10 fold especially at low concentrations in case of chloroform extracts. The findings here on anthelmintic activity of the root at lower concentrations are significant and for the first time. If in vivo data are included the plant can be used as long lasting drug for helminthes.

A potential review of its traditional uses, Phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicity of Plumbago zeylanica

“…The results from chloroform extracts were significantly better than those from ethanolic extract. These major findings point to the plant's long-term usage for helminthes [85] .…”