Anthelmentic Activity of Tridax procumbens Linn Leaves on Indian Earthworms

 

Chaudhari M. K*., Chaudhari R. D., Girase P. R., Suryawanshi H. P., Pawar S. P.

P. S. G. V. P. Mandal’s, College of Pharmacy, Shahada, Maharashtra.

 

ABSTRACT:

The aqueous and chloroform extracts of Tridax procumbens, linn belonging to the family Asteraceae were evaluated for anthelmintic activity. The dried powder of Tridax procumbens leaves was extracted and the anthelmintic activity was studied. Both aqueous and chloroform extract collected were tested for anthelmintic activity against Indian adult earthworm Pheritima posthuma and recorded the time taken for induction of paralysis and death. Two concentrations (25 mg/ml and 50 mg/ml) of aqueous and chloroform were evaluated in the bioassay involving determination of time of paralysis (P) and time of death (D) of the worms. Piperazine citrate (10 mg/ml) was used as reference standard and normal saline solution as a control. Comparative results of present study indicated that the aqueous and chloroform extracts of leaves of Tridax procumbens linn shows significantly dose depending pharmacological activity on the Indian earthworms.

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

Disease:

Helminthes infection is the most common infection in man and in animals which affects the large proportion of world’s population. Anthelmintics are drugs that expel parasitic worms (helminths) from the body, by either stunning or killing them. They may also be called vermifuge (stunning) or vermicides (killing). This includes both flat worms, e.g., flukes and tapeworms and round worms, i.e., nematodes. In the treatment of parasitic diseases an anthelmintics are used accidentally.^[1] Keeping this in view, the present communication deals with the evaluation of the anthelmintic activity of Tridax procumbens.^[2]  

 

 

 

PLANT DESCRIPTION:

Tridax procumbens linn is commonly known as Ghamra in Hindi and Ghav Pala or Dagadi Pala in Marathi. It is a weed found throughout India. A herb with woody base sometime rooting at the node, up to 60 cm high. Leaves are ovate-lanceolate 2 to7 cm, sometimes three lobed, flowers is small, long peduncles heads.^[3]

 

 

Fig 1- Leaves and Flowers of Tridax procumbens

 

TRADITIONAL NAMES:^[4]

English          - Coat Buttons and Tridax Daisy.

Hindi             - Ghamra.

Sanskrit        - Jayanti Veda.

Marathi        - Dagadi Pala and Ghav Pala,

Telugu          - Gaddi Chemanthi.

Tamil            - Thata poodu.

Malayalam   - Chiravanak.

 

TAXONOMICAL CLASSIFICATION: ^[5]

Kingdom         :Plantae

Subkingdom   :Viridiplantae

Superdivision :Spermatophytina

Class               :Magnoliopsida

Superorder    :Asteranae

Order             :Asterales

Family            :Asteraceae

Genus             :Tridax L.-tridax

Species            :Tridax procumbens L.

 

TRADITIONAL USES:

The plant is reported for its pharmacological actions like is commonly used in Indian traditional medicine as anticoagulant, antifungal and insect repellent, in bronchitis,  anthelmintic, diarrhoea and dysentery.^[6,7] Moreover it possesses wound healing activity and promotes hair growth.^[8] It is used to stop haemorrhage from the cuts, bruises and wounds. An aqueous extract of plant produces reflex tachycardia and showed a transient hypotensive effect on the normal blood pressure. It is employed as an indigenous medicine for a variety of ailments including jaundice. It is used in ayurveda in various liver disorders.^[9,10]

 

1.    MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Collection and Authentication of Plant material:

Fresh whole plant (leaves, stems, roots and flowers) of Tridax procumbens were collected from Satpuda region of Shahada and authenticated by Dr. S. K. Tayade, (Head of Dept. of botany) P. S. G. V. P. Mandal’s Arts, Science, and Commerce College, Shahada, Dist-Nandurbar (M.S.). After authentication, fresh leaves of plant were collected in bulk, washed under running tap water, dried under shade for a period of 7 days and then pulverized in mechanical grinder to obtain coarse powder. The dried powder was stored in airtight bottles.

 

Extraction Methodology:^[11,12]

1.    Aqueous extract:

The coarse powdered material (each 100 gm) was soaked in distilled water (500ml) by Maceration technique for continuous 72 hours and then strained and the concentrate was evaporated on water bath until concentrate (syrupy consistency) is left and then evaporated to dryness.

 

2.    Chloroform extract:

The coarse powdered material (each 100 gm) was soaked in chloroform (500ml) by Maceration technique for continuous 72 hours and then strained and the concentrate was evaporated on water bath until concentrate (syrupy consistency) is left and then evaporated to dryness.

 

Worms Collection:

Adult Indian earthworms (Pheretima Posthuma) were used to evaluate anthelmintic activity in vitro. Earthworms were collected from the water logged areas of soils along Lonkheda road Shahada. The average size of earthworm was 6-8 cm.

 

Drugs and chemicals:

1.    Piperazine citrate.

2.    Saline solution.

 

ANTHELMINTIC ACTIVITY:

The anthelmintic assay was carried out as per the method of Ajaiyeoba et al.^[13] The assay was performed in vitro using adult earthworm (Pheretima Posthuma) owing to its anatomical and physiological resemblance with the intestinal roundworm parasites of human beings for preliminary evaluation anthelmintic activity.^{[14, 15, 16]}

Test samples of the extracts were prepared at the concentrations 25 and 50 mg/ml in distilled water and three worms i.e. Pheretima posthuma of approximately equal size (same type) were placed in each 9 cm Petri dish containing 25 ml of above test solution of extracts. Piperazine citrate (10 mg/ml) was used as reference standard and saline solution as control.^{[17, 18, 19]} All the test solution and standard drug solution were prepared freshly before starting the experiments. Observations were made for the time taken for paralysis was noted when no movement of any sort could be observed except when the worms were shaken vigorously. Time for death of worms were recorded after ascertaining that worms neither moved when shaken vigorously nor when dipped in warm water (50^oC). All the results were expressed as a mean ± SEM of six worms in each group.

 

 

Table 1: Anthelmintic activity of Tridax Procumbens leaves extracts on Indian earthworm (Pheretima posthuma)

Sr. No.	Extracts	Conc. (mg/ml)	Indian Earthworms (Pheretima Posthuma)
			Time of Paralysis (P) in min.	Death Time (D) in min.
1	Aqueous	25	46.22 ± 1.22	68.20 ± 2.12
		50	29.54 ± 2.0	48.66 ± 1.34
2	Chloroform	25	38.14 ± 1.86	69.10 ± 1.56
		50	24.18 ± 0.98	52.44 ± 2.0
3	Control (Saline Sol)	-	-	-
4	Standard (Piperazine Citrate)	10	9.40 ± 0.68	22. 10 ± 1.24

 

 

 

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS:

The data presented as Mean ± SEM. The activities of the leaves extracts were compared with the control. All the extracts showed significantly higher duration of paralysis and death. Values of P<0.001 were considered statistically significant.^{[20, 21]}

 

 

Graph 1: Anthelmintic activity of Tridax Procumbens leaves extracts on Indian earthworm (Pheretima posthuma)

 

RESULTS AND DISSCUSION:           

From the observations made, higher concentration of extract produced paralytic effect much earlier and the time to death was shorter for all worms. Both the aqueous and chloroform extract showed anthelmintic activity in dose-dependent manner giving shortest time of paralysis (P) and death (D) with 50 mg/ml concentration, for worms. Evaluation of anthelmintic activity was compared with reference standard Piperazine citrate. From the above results, it is concluded that Tridax procumbens used by tribals traditionally to treat intestinal worm infections, showed significant anthelmintic activity. 50 mg/ml Chloroform extract exert paralytic effect in 24.18 ± 0.98 and death time in 52.44 ± 2.0. The experimental evidence obtained in the laboratory model could provide a rationale for the traditional use of this plant as anthelmintic. The plant may be further explored for its phytochemical profile to recognize the active constituent accountable for anthelmintic activity.

 

CONCLUSION:

From the above results, it is concluded that the chloroform extract of Tridax procumbens linn shows potent anthelmintic activity compare to standard anthelmintic drug. Further studies using in vivo models are required to carry out and establish the effectiveness and pharmacological rationale for the use of Tridax procumbens Linn as an anthelmintic drug. The drug can be further explored for the isolation and characterization of the active constituents responsible for anthelmintic activity.

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

The authors are thankful to Dr. S. P. Pawar, Principal, P. S.G.V.P.M’s College of Pharmacy, Shahada for providing necessary facilities to carry out present research work Dr. Santosh Tayade, for authentication of plant specimens. The authors are also grateful to staff of forest department, Toranmal for their kind help during field visits and tribal people who shared their traditional knowledge regarding medicinal plants during our field visits.

 

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Accepted on 31.08.2018        © RJPT All right reserved

Research J. Pharm. and Tech 2018; 11(12): 5373-5375.