Original Articles
K. Gnaneswari, Y. Padma, R. R.
Abstract
The present paper deals with anthelmintic activity of leaves of Leonotis nepetiifolia (L.) R.Br. (Lamiaceae), a potential medicinal plant, distributed in wastelands, open forests in India. The plant is used in traditional medicine for bronchial asthma, diarrhoea, fever, cold, cough, malaria and as an analgesic agent in menstrual pains. The methanol, ethyl acetate and aqueous extracts were evaluated for its anthelmintic activity against adult indian earth worms (Phertima posthuma). Three concentrations (25, 50 and 75mg/ml) of each extract were studied, which involved for the determination of time of paralysis and time of death of the test worms. It was found that methanol and ethyl acetate extracts exhibited significant anthelmintic activity while aqueous extract show least activity. Albendazole in same concentration as that of extract was used as standard reference and saline water as control.