Investigation of Anthelmintic activity of Leonotis Nepetifolia (L) R

From the observations made both extracts of whole plant of Leonotis nepetiifolia was found to show a potent anthelmintic activity. Ethanolic extract of at 75 mg/ml concentration shows paralysis at 52 min and death 69 min, while aqueous extracts show paralysis at 69 min and death 90 min by the earth worm Pheretima posthuma. Among two extracts aqueous extracts show least anthelmintic activity. The reference drug Albendazole exhibited the same at 45 min and 61 min respectively. Albendazole exhibits anthelmintic activity by blocking glucose uptake and depletion of glycogen stores in test parasite. An ethanolic extract of Leonotis nepetiifolia not only demonstrated paralysis, but also caused death of worms especially at higher concentration of 75 mg/ml in shorter time as near to Albendazole. Phytochemical screening of the extracts revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins and steroids. As per literature survey, tannins chemically polyphenolic compounds, were shown to produce anthelmintic activities.