Anthelmintic Activity of Spondias pinnata (Linn.F) Kurz

SumantaMondal^1*, Gouri Kishore Dash¹ and Rishi Raj Chhetree²

Matushree V. B. Manvar College of Pharmacy, Dumiyani, Rajkot District, Gujarat -360 440.

²Regional Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Agartala, Tripura-799005

ABSTRACT:

Present study reports anthelmintic activity of various extracts of the bark of Spondias Pinnata against Indian earthworms Pheritima posthuma. The results revealed that all the tested extracts of Spondias Pinnata bark possess anthelmintic activity in a dose dependant manner. Potency of the test samples was found to be inversely proportional to the time taken for paralysis/death of the worms. The activities were comparable with the reference drug piperazine citrate. Among the tested extracts, the chloroform extract was found to possess promising anthelmintic activity in comparison to other extracts. The present study therefore justifies its use in the folklore remedies as an anthelmintic drug of natural origin.

KEYWORDS: Anthelmintic, Spondias Pinnata, Pheritima posthuma, Piperazine citrate.

INTRODUCTION:

Spondias Pinnata, (Linn. f) Kurz (Family: Anacardiaceae) is a glabrous tree 9-10.5 m high; trunk straight; bark smooth, ash-coloured; branches nearly horizontal with pleasant aromatic smell¹. The leaves are tasty, appetizing, and astringent. They are also used as flavouring. The unripe fruit is sour, indigestible, hot; destroys “vata”; enriches the blood; cures rheumatism. The bark is aromatic, astringent and refrigerant. It is useful in dysentery and diarrhoea, and is also given to prevent vomiting^2-3. The plant is reported to have anti-tubercular properties. The tree a mild, insipid, yellow or reddish-brown, stalactiform gum with smooth, shining surface, resembling gum Arabic, with water but is not wholly soluble. It is used as demulcent and for the purpose of fumigation. The gum is sometimes employed as an adhesive⁴. The Sabara tribes of Orissa state use the decoction of fresh barks for treating helminthiasis in children. The present study reports the anthelmintic activity of the bark of S. Pinnata.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Plant Material

The plant material was collected from the herbal garden of Regional Plant Research Centre, Bhubaneswar in July 2007 and identified by the taxonomists of the research center. After authentication, fresh bark material was collected in bulk, washed, shade dried and pulverized in a mechanical grinder to obtain coarse powder.

Preparation of Extract

The powdered bark (500 g) was extracted successively with 2 lit each of petroleum ether (40-60⁰C), chloroform, methanol and water for 48 h in a soxhlet extractor. Following extraction, the liquid extracts were concentrated under vacuum to yield dry extracts.

Table I: Anthelmintic Activity of Various Extracts of Spondias Pinnata, Bark

Treatment	Concentration used (mg/ml)	Time taken for paralysis (min)	Time taken for death (min)
Vehicle	-	-	-
Piperazine citrate	15	23±0.399	-
Pet-Ether extract	10	35.33±2.974	51.166±2.561
	15	28.33±2.728	40.33±3.04
	20	20.66±1.66	34.166±1.60
Chloroform extract	10	24.166±2.676	42.33±3.383
	15	20.33±2.642	33.166±1.558
	20	10.5±0.8062	22.33±1.706
Methanol extract	10	41.16±2.822	-
	15	34.33±2.917	54.33±2.74
	20	31.33±2.616	48.33±3.612
Aqueous extract	10	58.33±0.760	-
	15	51.166±2.182	-
	20	38.166±1.579	56.33±2.716

Values are expressed as mean ± S.E.M. (n = 6), Control worms were alive up to 24 h of the experiment.

Anthelmintic Activity

The anthelmintic activity was evaluated on adult Indian earthworm Pheritima posthuma due to its anatomical and physiological resemblance with the intestinal roundworm parasites of human beings^5-7.

The method of Nirmal et al.⁸ was followed for the study. Six groups of approximately equal size Indian earthworms consisting six earthworms in each group were released into 50 ml of desired formulation. Each group was treated with one of the following: Vehicle (1% gum acacia in normal saline), Piperazine citrate (15 mg/ml) or extracts (10, 15, 20 mg/ml). Observations were made for the time taken to paralysis and/or death of individual worms. Paralysis was said to occur when the worms do not revive even in normal saline. Death was concluded when the worms loose their motility followed with fading away of their body colour. The results are shown in Table I.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

Various extracts of Spondias Pinnata, barks possess anthelmintic activity in a dose dependant manner. Potency of the test samples was found to be inversely proportional to the time taken for paralysis/death of the worms. The activities were compared with the reference drug Piperazine citrate. Among the tested extracts, the chloroform extract was found to possess promising anthelmintic activity in comparison to other extracts. The present study therefore justifies its use in the folklore remedies as an anthelmintic drug of natural origin. Further study regarding isolation and characterization of the active constituents from the plant extracts are currently under progress in our institution.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

The authors are thankful to the management of Matushree V. B. Manvar College of Pharmacy, Dumiyani, Rajkot district, Gujarat for providing necessary facilities to carry out the present research works.

REFERENCES:

1. Pal DC and Jain SK. Tribal Medicine. Naya Prakash, New Delhi. 2000. pp. 246-247.

2. Anonymous. Flora of West Bengal. Calcutta: Publication and information Directorate, Botanical Survey of India. 1985; Vol-1(2). pp. 484-485.

3. Kiritikar KR and Basu BD. Indian Medicinal Plants. Lalit Mohan Basu, Deharadun: International Book Distributors. 1933; 2^nd ed: Vol. II. pp. 672-673.

4. Anonymous. The Wealth of India. Publication and information Directorate, CSIR, New Delhi. 1976; Vol. I: pp. 20-21.

5. Vidyarthi RD. A Textbook of Zoology. S. Chand and Co., New Delhi, 1977; 14^th ed: pp. 329.

6. Thorn GW., Adams RD., Braunwald E., Isselbacher KJ. and Petersdorf RG. Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine. Mcgraw Hill Co, New York. 1977; pp. 1088.

7. Vigar Z. Atlas of Medical Parasitology. P.G. Publishing House, Singapore. 1984; 2^nd ed: pp. 216.

8. Nirmal SA., Nikalye AG., Jadav RS. and Tambe VD. Anthelmintic activity of Martynia annua roots. Indian Drugs. 2007; 44(10): 772-773.