ANTHELMINTIC ACTIVITY OF LEAVES OF MIMOSA PUDICA

Helminthes parasite infections are global problems with serious social and economic repercussion in third world countries. The disease affects the health status of large fraction of the human population as well as animals. The Mimosa pudica is commonly known as SHY PLANT. The all parts of plant being used from the period of Sushruta as acrid, analgesic, antipyretic, antimicrobial. immunomodulatory effect and in wide verity disease.The present study was undertaken to evaluate anthelmintic activity of different extracts of seeds of Mimosa pudica belonging to family mimosaceae. The different successive extracts namely petroleum ether, ethanol and water using Pheretima posthuma as a test worm to the different concentrations (100, 200, 500mg/kg) were tested for bioassay which involved determination of paralysis and time of death of the worms. Albendazole was included as standard reference and normal saline as control. The result of present study indicated that the crude alcoholic extract and aqueous extracts significantly demonstrated paralysis and also caused death of worms in dose dependent manner as compared to standard reference albendazole. While pet. ether extracts shows weak anthelmintic effect compared to standard, ethanol and aqueous extracts. Further studies are in process to isolate the active principles responsible for the activity. Pharmaceutical Sciences