Investigation of in-vitro anthelmintic activity of ethanolic leaf extract of Boerhavia diffusa (Nyctaginaceae) including pharmacognostical and phytochemical screening

The present study clearly indicated that the crude ethanol extract of Boerhavia diffusa did produce anthelmintic activity against Indian earthworm Pheretima posthuma. The plant possesses significant anthelmintic activity at 100 mg/ml concentration measured by time taken for paralyze/death of the earth worms. The current investigation leads to conclusion that the leaves of B. diffusa have potent anthelmintic activity of conventionally used drug. The results did not, however, exclude the possibility that doses of the extract with lower anthelmintic activity in this study might be efficacious against other species of helminths. Further studies using in vivo models and to isolate active constituents from extract are required to carry out and established the effectiveness and pharmacological rational for the use of B. diffusa as an anthelmintic drug.