Pongamiapinnata Linn belonging to family, Leguminosae is a medium sized glabrous tree popularly known as Karanja in Hindi. The traditional uses of Pongamiapinnata leaves are digestive, antidiarhoeal, anthelmintic and in the treatment of chronic fever, bronchitis, rheumatic joints and for cleaning ulcers and wounds. The present study was carried out for in vitro anthelmintic activity of ethanolic extract (EEPP) and Water saturated with ether extract of Pongamiapinnata (WSEPP) leaves using adult Indian earthworms, Pheretimaposthumaas a test worm. Three concentrations (150, 250 and 500 mg/ml) were studied which determined time of paralysis and time for death of worms. Albendazole in same concentration as that of extract was included as standard and normal saline as control. This experiment involved the determination of time of paralysis and time of death of the worms. The EEPP and WSEPP of the leaves shows dose dependent paralysis ranging from loss of motility to loss of response to external stimuli, which eventually progressed to death. Preliminary phytochemical investigation of EEPP and WSEPP shows presence of tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, glycosides, saponins, proteins and carbohydrates.Tannins are known to have anthelmintic activity. Thereby it can be concluded that EEPP and WSEPP of Pongamiapinnata shows anthelmintic activity, which may be due to presence of tannins binding to free proteins in the gastrointestinal tract of host animal or glycoprotein on the cuticle of the parasite causing death of worm.
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