ABSTRACT:
Tagetes erecta Linn. (Asteraceae) is an ornamental plant and has versatile medicinal importance. The present study has been designed to assess in-vitro anthelmintic activity of different leaf extracts along with qualitative and quantitative estimation of phytoconstituents of Tagetes erecta Linn. By following the standard methods, different physicochemical parameters, UV fluorescence study and preliminary phytochemical screening have been examined and estimation of total tannins, flavonoids and phenolic compounds have been percformed. Different concentration (25, 50, 100 mg/mL) of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of the leaf have been used for the activity against all groups of earthworms (Pheretima posthuma, Eisenia fetida, Perionyx excavates) and nematode (Ascardia galli), collected from the freshly slaughtered Gallus gallus, while Albendazole and 3% Tween 80 in normal saline have been taken as standard and control respectively. Significant amount of tannins (4.05±2.15 mg TAEg), flavonoids (21.80±2.01 mg QEg) and phenolics (40.19±1.67 mg GAEg) were found in ethanolic extract. All the extracts exhibited potent anthelmintic activity in dose dependent manner; the ethanolic extract at 100 mg/mL concentration showed more significant activity against all earthworms and nematode comparing against the aqueous extract.