Paralytic and lethal effects of Trichosanthes dioica root extracts in experimental worms.

CONTEXT: Trichosanthes dioica Roxb. (Cucurbitaceae), called pointed gourd in English, is a dioecious climber and its roots are traditionally used in India as a hydrogouge cathartic, tonic, and febrifuge, and in the treatment of jaundice, anasarca, and ascites.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the in vitro effects of different solvent extracts of T. dioica root in experimental worms, viz. annelids and nematodes.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

The in vitro paralytic and lethal effects of defatted dichloromethane (DCTD), methanol (METD), and aqueous (AQTD) extracts of T. dioica root were evaluated against Pheretima posthuma (Annelida) and Ascaridia galli (Nematoda) by keeping the worms in different concentrations of each test extract under specific experimental conditions followed by determination of mean paralysis and lethal times. Albendazole was used as the reference drug.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: All the extracts demonstrated concentration-dependent paralytic and lethal effects on P. posthuma and lethal effects on A. galli. The DCTD was found to be the most potent followed by the METD and AQTD. A. galli was found to be more sensitive than P. posthuma against all extracts, indicating T. dioica root as an effective nematocide.

CONCLUSION

The present study establishes the in vitro wormicidal property of T. dioica root extracts against the experimental worms, showing promising nematocidal (and hence anthelmintic) potential.