Search for anthelmintics of plant origin: activities of volatile principles of Acorus calamus and Piper longum against Ascaris lumbricoides
1980
Kokate, C.K. | Chaudhari, G.N. | Nimbkar, A.Y.
The essential oils were isolated from the rhizomes of A. calamus (1% v/w), and fruits of P. longum (1.2% v/w) by hydro-distillation. The volatile oils and their fractions were tested for anthelmintic activity on neuromuscular preparations of A. lumbricoides (1), using piperazine citrate and tetramisole as standards. The worms were obtained from the intestines of human bodies at autopsy from local hospital. The oil of A. calamus (1:1000 v/v) inhibited the amplitude of rhythmic contractions within 5 minutes of the exposure. It was interesting to note that though the oil produced partial paralysis of the movements, the phenolic and non-phenolic fractions of the same oil, when tested separately, caused complete paralysis within 25 and 5 minutes respectively. The oil of P. longum elicited pronounced effect on the rhythmic movements of Ascaris segment as evidenced from resulting paralysis that occurred between 12 to 15 minutes of exposure with 1:1000 v/v concentration of oil. The essential oil of P. longum and its non-phenolic fraction did not significantly differ in their ability to inhibit the rhythmic motions, even though, minimal motions persisted in case of non-phenolic fraction. Piperazine citrate failed to induce paralysis within 40 minutes of exposure. The essential oils and their fractions were, however, less effective than tetramisole in the same concentrations.
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