PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND ANTHELMINTIC ACTIVITY OF ROOT EXTRACT OF HUGONIA MYSTAX LINN AGAINST PHERETIMA POSTHUMA – AN IN VITRO STUDY

Back ground: Helminth infections are among the most common infections in man in developing countries they pose a large threat to public. These infections can affect most population in endemic areas with major economic and social consequences.

Objective: In this paper, an ethnomedicinal plant, Hugonia mystax Linn. was evaluated for its preliminary phytochemical screening and in-vitro anthelmintic activity.

Method: The earthworms resembled the intestinal roundworm parasites of human beings both anatomically and physiologically and hence where used to study the anthelmintic activity. The worms were acclimatized to the laboratory condition before experimentation.

Results: Preliminary phytochemical screening showed the presence of various classes of secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, phenols, saponins, steroids, tannins and terpenoids. Anthelmintic activity of ethanolic extract of root showed significant activity. The anthelmintic activity revealed the medicinal potential of H. mystax to develop a drug against various human ailments.

Conclusion: The present study brings detailed pharmacognostical profile of roots of Hugonia mystax L. The species, H. mystax has a restricted global distribution, occurring only in India and Sri Lanka. It is an unexplored medicinal plant in the Indian medicinal system. According to ethnobotanical information, the root powder of H. mystax is used as the best antidote, anthelmintic, febrifuge and for the treatment of peptic ulcers.