In vitro study of Praecitrulus fistulosus (Stocks) Pangalo (Cucurbitaceae) fruit – A potential candidate of Anthelmintic activity

Abstract

Abstract Background Helminthiasis infestation is one of the most widespread and severe public health problems in the world. These parasites cause several diseases like anemia, malnutrition, pneumonia, eosinophilia, and malaria. This disease is also preventable and treatable, but still, it is the major cause of death worldwide. Results The present study was undertaken to evaluate petroleum ether, chloroform, and methanol extract of Praecitrullus fistulosus for anthelmintic activity against Pheretima posthuma. Three concentrations (1%, 2%, 5%) of each extract were taken, and these concentrations involved the determination of time of paralysis and time of death of the worms. Normal saline and albendazole were used as control and standard, respectively. The result revealed that 5% of methanol extracts of the P. fistulosus exhibited significant anthelmintic activity. The preliminary phytochemical analysis of crude methanol extract showed the presence of terpenoids, alkaloids, tannins, phenols, flavonoids, and glycosides. The methanolic extract was fractionated by column chromatography and the anthelmintic activity was evaluated for the different fractions and active fraction was characterization using TLC. Conclusion These results show the isolation of active phytochemical constituent phenol, 3,5-bis (1,1-dimethyl)- responsible for anthelmintic activity. Using the Pheretima posthuma as the animal models, we have shown that isolated compound from methanolic extract of fruit of P. fistulosus has potential to act against helminthiasis. Graphical abstract