Anthelmintic Activity of Salvadora Persica Root Extract against Pheretima Posthuma

Helminthes infections are the most common health problems in India, in developing countries they pose a large treat to public. These infections can affect most population in endemic areas with major economic and social consequences. The miswak is a natural toothbrush made from the twigs of the Salvadora persica (Salvadoraceae). Miswak prevents tooth decay, eliminating toothaches and halt further increase in decay. The present study was undertaken to evaluate antihelmintic activity of aqueous and alcoholic root extract of S. persica against Indian earthworms Pheretima posthuma. Various concentrations (10, 20, 40 and 80 mg/ml) of aqueous and alcoholic root extract of S. persica were tested, which involved determination of time of paralysis and time of death of the worms. It was compared with Piperazine citrate (10, 20, 40 and 80 mg/ml) as standard reference and normal saline as control. The study indicated the potential usefulness of aqueous and alcoholic extract of S. persica against earthworm. INTRODUCTION: Helminthiasis or worm infestation is one of the most prevalent disease and one of the most serious public health problems in the world. Hundreds of millions if not billions of human infections by helminthes exist worldwide and increased world travel and immigration from the developing countries . Chemical control of helminthes coupled with improved management has been the important worm control strategy throughout the world. However, increasing problems of development of resistance in helminthes 2, 3 against anthelmintics have led to the proposal of screening medicinal plants for their antihelmintic activity. Medicinal plants are of great importance to the health of individuals and communities in general. The medicinal value of plants lies in some chemical substances that produce a definite physiological action on the human body. The most important of these bioactive constituents of plants are alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids and phenolic compounds. Many of the indigenous medicinal plants are used as spices and food plants. They also sometimes added to foods meant for pregnant women and nursing mothers for medicinal purposes 4, 5, . In addition, the use of herbal medicine for the treatment of diseases and infections is as old as mankind. The World Health Organization supports the use traditional medicine provided they are proven to be efficacious and safe . In developing countries, a huge number of people lives in extreme poverty and some are suffering and dying for want of safe water and medicine, they have no alternative for primary health care . Therefore, the need to use medicinal plants as alternatives to orthodox medicines in the provision of primary health care cannot be overemphasized.