EVALUATION OF ANTHELMINTIC ACTIVITIES OF RUMEX ABYSSINICUS JACQ AND RUMEX NERVOSUS VAHL. (POLYGONACEAE) Research Article

Helminthiasis is a disease in which a part of the body is infested with worms such as pinworm, roundworm or tapeworm. Typically, the worms reside in the gastrointestinal tract but may also burrow into the liver and other organs. Rumex abyssinicus Jacq and Rumex nervosus Vahl (polygonaceae) is a large annual herb up to 4m high, leaves usually sagittate, inflorescence much branched, leafless panicle, nut light brown. These plants called in Amharic as Mekmako. Rumex abyssinicus as well as Rumex nervosus of the roots tested for anthelmintic activities. When tested in vitro, showed potent anthelmintic activity on the earthworm, Pheretima posthuma. Methanolic extract of Rumex abyssinicus were more active than its aqueous extract (p<0.001), while methanol extract of Rumex nervosus also more potent than the aqueous extract. Piperazine citrate (20mg/ml) was used as a reference standard.