Phytochemical investigation and evaluation of anthelmintic activity of extract from leaves of Eupatorium odoratum linn

Abstract:

Eupatorium odoratum Linn is found in the tribal area of Koraput district and extensively used traditionally by the tribal people as anthelmintic, antimicrobial, antifungal and wound healing. The present study is an attempt to preliminary investigation of phytochemical constituent and to explore the anthelmintic activity of different extracts of leaves of plant Eupatorium odoratum using petroleum ether, ethanol and chloroform as solvents. The various doses of extracts were screened for phytochemical constituent and evaluated for their anthelmintic activities on adult Indian earthworms, Pheretima posthuma. Tests for alkaloid and tannins were positive in all extracts except tannin was absent in petroleum ether. Tests for saponin, protein, aminoacid and anthraquinone glycoside were negative in all extracts. All extracts were able to show anthelmintic activity at 2.5 mg/ml concentration. The activities are comparable with the standard drugs, piperazine citrate and albendazole. All the doses of petroleum ether, ethanol and chloroform extracts of Eupatorium odoratum showed better anthelmintic activity than the standard drug albendazole except petroleum ether extract at 2.5 mg/ml of concentration. The extracts of three solvents at concentration of 2.5 and 5.0 mg/ml showed lesser anthelmintic activity than the standard drug piperazine citrate. When the dose of the extract is increased, a gradual increase in anthelmintic activity was observed. The ethanolic extract showed better anthelmintic activity in comparison with petroleum ether and chloroform extracts. The data were verified as statistically significant by using one way ANOVA at 5 % level of significance (p < 0.05).

Key Words: Eupatorium odoratum; Asteraceae; Anthelmintic; Piperazine citrate; Albindazole.