Phytochemical Screening and Anthelmintic activity of Ficus religiosa Linn.

The present study was designed to evaluate the anthelmintic potential of bark extract of Ficus religiosa Linn. The methanolic extract of Ficus religiosa & its aqueous extract at different concentrations (25, 50,100 mg /ml) were tested on Indian adult earthworm (Pheretimaposthuma) by in vitro standard procedure. Time of paralysis and time of death of the worms were considered as the parameters to assess the anthelmintic action. Albendazole and 2% gum acacia in distilled water were used as standard and control respectively. The methanolic fraction of extract exhibited potent anthelmintic activity compared to aqueous extracts evidenced by significant decrease in time of paralysis & death. Evaluation of anthelmintic activity by aqueous extract at 100mg/ml concentration showed time of paralysis & time of death as 7.01 & 13.20 min. Whereas for methanolic extract fraction, it was 5.4& 8.16 min.The reference standard Albendazole showed the time of paralysis & time of death as 1.22 & 2.30 min. respectivelyThe observed activity could be due to the presence to phenolic compounds, particularly tannins in the test extract. These in-vitro studies indicated that the Ficus religiosa Linn is a significant source of natural anthelmintic, which might be helpful in preventing the progress of various parasitic disorders. Intestinal parasitic infections are one of the main health problems, especially in developing countries, and particularly in children. Inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene may be the reason behind it [1]. Anthelmintic are drugs that either kill or expel infesting helminthes and the gastrointestinal tract is the abode of many helminths, although some also live in tissues, or their larvae migrate into tissues. They harm the host depriving him of food, causing blood loss, injury to organs, intestinal or lymphatic obstruction and by secreting toxins. Helminthiasis is rarely fatal, but is a major cause of morbidity [2]. The world health organization (WHO) has estimated that approximately 80% of the world’s population depends on traditional medicines for meeting their primary health careneeds [3]. Numbers of synthetic drugs like mebendazole, albendazole, piperazine, pyrantel, are used to control and prevent from the infection, used as broad spectrum anthelmintic drug. Long term use of this synthetic medicine associated with various adverse effects like tolerance, resistance, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, dizziness, and abdominal pain. Therefore, search for new drugs is essential from natural source [4]. Today, gastrointestinal anthelmintic. However, wide-spread increase in anthelmintic resistance, scarcity and high costs, particularly for low-income farmers in developing among other alternative methods [5]. The aim of the study is to evaluate anthelmintic potential of bark extracts of Ficus religiosa.