Evaluation of in vitro anthelminthic activity of Leucas aspera extracts

Helminths infections are also among the most common infections in human, affecting a large proportion of the world's population in developing countries and produce a global burden of disease. Pherithema posthuma a helminthes is commonly known as earth-worms, Leucas aspera herb is distributed throughout India. The anthelminthic property of Leucas aspera was evaluated using Pherithema posthuma as an experimental model. Piperazine citrate was used as the standard reference. Earthworm belonging to control group showed paralysis time as 64.33 min and death time as 200 min. Among the various concentrations of aqueous extract tested, concenration at 250 mg/ml showed efficient anthelminthic activity and among all the concentrations ethanol extract tested, concentration at 250 mg/ml gave significant results. This investigation revealed that ethanol extract of Leucas aspera showed significant anthelminthic activity against Pheretima posthuma when compared aqueous extract. Ethanol extract also proved to be efficient than the standard drug. This investigation supported the ethnomedical claims of Leucas aspera as anthelminthic plant.