Effect of Trichosanthes dioica (Fruits) Against Helminthes

Yogesh Shivhare¹* and Priya Singh²

¹Department of Pharmacognosy, RKDF College of Pharmacy, Bhopal (M.P.), India

²Department of Pharmacognosy, Lakshminarain College of Pharmacy, Bhopal (M.P.), India

ABSTRACT:

The present communication deals with the laboratory studies carried out to ascertain the anthelmintic activity of methanolic extract of Trichosanthes dioica Roxb (fruits). Various concentrations (50 and 100 mg/ml) of extract were tested in the assay, which involved the determination of paralysis time and death time of the organisms. The methanol extract exhibited significant anthelmintic activity comparable to standard drug. The efficacy of methanolic extract of Trichosanthes dioica may be attributed to the phytochemicals present in the solvent extract. Further studies on isolation of active constituents are to be required.

KEYWORDS: T. dioica, Earthworms, Roundworm, Tapeworms, Anthelmentic activity

INTRODUCTION:

Herbal drugs have played a vital role in curing diseases throughout the history of mankind. A number of medicinal plants have been used to treat parasitic infections in man and animals. ^(1-3). In the series of medicinal plants, Trichosanthes dioica is a precious plant which can be explored for its strength and medicinal care properties. Trichosanthes dioica Roxb (Pointed gourd) is a perennial, dioecious cucurbit that grows as a creeper and it is cultivated in subtropical and tropical regions around the globe.⁴ The Bengal and Assam region of India is the primary centre of its origin.⁵ It is grown almost in every districts of Bangladesh, especially in Rajshahi, Bogra, Pabna, Jessore and Kushtia.⁶ The fruit is the edible part of the plant, which is cooked in various ways either alone or in combinations with other vegetables or meats. The fruits of Trichosanthes dioica find an important place in indigenous medicine as a febrifuge, catharatic, hydrogogue and tonic.⁷ The fresh juice of the unripe fruit is often used as a cooling and laxative to some alternative medicine.⁸ Literature survey revealed that no systematic approach has been made to investigate anthelmintic potential on fruits of Trichosanthes dioica, hence the present study was undertaken to assess the anthelmintic activity of methanol extract of Trichosanthes dioica.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Plant material:

Fruits of Trichosanthes dioica were purchased from the local market of Bhopal in September 2010. The collected material was authenticated in Department of Pharmacognosy, RKDF College of Pharmacy, Bhopal (M.P.), where a voucher specimen is deposited for future reference (Voucher No. PCG-23).

Preparation of extract:

The fruits were cut into small pieces and shade dried at room temperature. The dried fruits were pulverized to a coarse powder and passed through sieve no. 40. This powder was packed into soxhlet apparatus and extracted with methanol. The extract was concentrated under reduced pressure to get a semisolid mass.

Testing Animals:

Adult Earthworms (Pheretima posthuma), Roundworm (Ascaridia galli) and Tapeworms (Raillietina spiralis) were selected to evaluate anthelmintic activity of methanolic extract of Trichosanthes dioica in vitro. All the worms were collected from the local areas of Bhopal.

Preparation of test sample:

Samples for in-vitro study were prepared by dissolving methanol extract of Trichosanthes dioica in distilled water to obtain a stock solution. From this stock solution, different working dilutions were prepared to get concentration range of 50 and 100 mg/ml.

EVALUATION OF ANTHELMINTIC ACTIVITY:

The anthelmintic activity was performed according to the method of Ajaiyeoba et al.⁹ The animals were divided into twelve groups with six in each group. Group I serve as control received only normal saline, Group II kept as standard, received standard drug Albendazole of different concentrations, Group III serve as methanol extract of different concentrations. Observations were made for the time taken to paralysis and death of individual worms. Paralysis was said to occur when the worms do not revive even in normal saline. Death was concluded when the worms lost their mortality followed with fading away of their body color.

Statistical analysis:

The data obtained were expressed as mean ± SEM. Statistical analysis were performed by one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by student’s t test. P values < 0.001 were considered significant.

RESULTS:

In this anthelmintic assay, methanolic extract of Trichosanthes dioica not only produced paralysis but also cause death of all species of worms as shown in fig 1-6. Methanolic extract of Trichosanthes dioica exhibited anthelmintic activity in concentration dependent mode giving shortest time of paralysis (P) and death (D) with 100 mg/ml concentration. Parallel effects were observed for the tested standard drugs (Albendazole). Furthermore, the anthelmintic effect of methanolic extract of Trichosanthes dioica was comparable with the standard drug, although it caused both paralysis and death of the worms similar to Albendazole. From the observations made, higher concentration of extract produced paralytic effect much earlier and the time to death was shorter for all the worms.

Fig 1 and 2 Anthelmentic activity of methanolic extract of Trichosanthes dioica against Earthworms

Fig 3 and 4 Anthelmentic activity of methanolic extract of Trichosanthes dioica against Tapeworms

Fig 5 and 6 Anthelmentic activity of methanolic extract of Trichosanthes dioica against Roundworms

DISCUSSION:

Pheretima posthuma were used due to its anatomical and physiological resemblance with the intestinal roundworm parasite of human being. Use of Ascaridia galli and Raillietina species as an appropriate model for viewing of anthelmintic activity.¹⁰ Anthelmintics essentially kill worms by either starving them to death or paralyzing them because worms have no means of storing energy, they eat almost continuously to meet their metabolic needs. Any disruption in this process results in energy depletion. The mechanism action of Trichosanthes dioica is not yet fully understood, but the anthelmintic activity, as evident from the results of current study, could be attributed to its inhibition of tubulin polymerization and blocking glucose uptake due to its similarity in action with Albendazole. The lethal effect of Albendazole was attributed to its inhibition of tubulin polymerization and blocking glucose uptake.¹¹ Moreover, the activity may be attributed to the phytoconstituents present in the plant, jointly or separately.

CONCLUSION:

The activity shown by methanolic extract of Trichosanthes dioica is of considerable importance and has justified its use in controlling the disease causes by worms. Further studies are required to identify the actual chemical constituents that are present in the crude extract of this plant which are responsible for anthelmintic activity.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

Yogesh Shivhare and Priya Singh, Authors, would like to thanks to Dr. A. K. Singhai, Principal, Lakshminarain College of Pharmacy, Bhopal (M.P.), for providing the required facilities during this work.

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Received on 10.02.2011

Modified on 28.02.2011

Accepted on 15.09.2011

Research J. Science and Tech. 3(5): Sept.-Oct. 2011: 270-272