Abstract

Dharani Eswaran, Jeevitha Loganathan, Saraswathi Uthamaramasamy*and Malathi Mangalanathan

ABSTRACT

Leucaena leucocephala belongs to the family Fabaceae is a small tree originated in Mexico and is naturalized throughout the tropical areas. The present study was undertaken to evaluate anthelmintic activity of 50% hydroethanolic extract of aerial parts (leaves, seeds, stem) of Leucaena leucocephala through invitro assay using Pheretima posthuma as test worms. Different concentrations of plant extracts were tested and results were expressed in terms of time for paralysis and death of worms. Albendazole was used as a standard and carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC) was used as a control. All the extracts were able to paralyse and kill the earthworms. The result obtained in the study led to the conclusion that leaves of Leucaena leucocephala showed a significant anthelmintic activity at a highest concentration of 100mg/ml followed by seed and stem.