SCREENING OF SELECTED MEDICINAL PLANT EXTRACTS FOR ANTHELMINTIC AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY

Abstract

The present work evaluates invitro antioxidant and anthelmintic activity of hot water extracts of selected plants, namely seeds of Coriandrum sativum, bark of Acacia catechu, leaves of Ocimum sanctum, dried rhizome of Zingiber officinale, seeds of Cuminum cyminum, dried heart wood of Caesalpinia sappan, the parts being used for preparing herbal drinking water. The antioxidant activity was determined by 2,2-diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay; the anthelmintic activity was tested against the Indian earthworm (Pheretima posthuma). A marked dose dependent antioxidant and anthelmintic activity was observed in the trials. Antioxidant activity was higher in Acacia catechu bark extract and Ocimum sanctum leaves showed maximum anthelmintic activity.