Phytochemical screening and evaluation of anthelmintic activity of Euphorbia tithymaloidus

Abstract

Euphorbia tithymaloidus is a shrub having a range of activities like anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-malarial, anti-tuberculosis, antifungal, antibacterial, antidaibetic and wound healing etc., but the anthelminthic activity of this plant is still under consideration. In this study carried out the phytochemical and anthelminthic activity of Euphorbia tithymaloidus in order to estimate its potential in treating the intestinal worms. The in vitro anthelmintic activity was performed on ethanolic leaf extract using adult earthworms (Pheretima posthuma). The standard drug used was albendazole in the concentration of 15-60 mg mL-1 to note the paralysis time and death time. The result of the study showed that the ethanolic leaf extract shows the presence of certain phytoconstituents like flavonoids, carbohydrates, steroids and alkaloids. The reaction time was noted as paralysis time and death time for all the concentrations and compared with standard albendazole. The extract exhibited remarkable activity at a concentration of 45 mg mL-1 as compared to standard drug albendazole within a shorter time span of less than 10 min.