Anthelmintic activity of leaf extract Calotropis procera

Abstract

Calotropis procera (Asclepiadaceae), giant milkweed, known for its various pharmacological importance for centuries to cure various diseases. It exerts many pharmacological effects such as anti-microbial, anti-pyretic, anti-cancer. Calotropis procera leaves extract was found to possess anthelmintic activity against Posthuma using mebendazole as the reference standard. The dose-dependent activity was observed in different concentrations of benzene extract of leaves. The benzene extracts of leaves at concentration 10,20,50mg/ml showed paralysis time as 4.52,3.24,1.15 min and death time as 8.27,5.26,2.66min respectively. At highest concentration produces paralysis and death in a short time which is comparable with mebendazole. Normally saline solution-treated earthworms have not shown any change in physical activity. All the data were expressed as mean ISEM. Data were subjected to one-way ANOVA. The statistical analysis was conducted with graph pad instant software (version 3, USA). The values of p