Research Article IN VITRO ANTHELMINTIC ACTIVITY OF FICUS BENGHALENSIS, FICUS CARICA & FICUS RELIGIOSA: A COMPARATIVE STUDY H.A. SAWARKAR 1 *, MUKESH KUMAR SINGH 2 , AJIT KUMAR PANDEY 1 , DEEPAK BISWAS 1 1 Department of Pharmacognosy, Shri Rawatpura Institute of Pharmacy, Kumhari, Durg (C.G.) India, 2 Rungta College of Pharmaceutical Science and Research Kohka road, Kurud, Bhilai491024 (C.G.) India, Email: mrhemant1979@gmail.com Received: 22 Nov 2010, Revised and Accepted: 29 Dec 2010 ABSTRACT Aqueous extract of fruits of some commonly occurring plants of genus Ficus (F. benghalesis, F. carica & F. religiosa) compared for their invitro anthelmintic activity in order to estimate the most potent of them. Results revealed that F. benghalensis killed all the test worms (Pheretima Posthuma) with in an hour of post exposure being 100% effective. F. religiosa was equally effective at 1‐2 hrs of post exposure while F. carica was effective at 2‐3 hrs of post exposure. The results were compared with Piperazine hydrate as a positive control and normal saline solution as a negative control. Piperazine hydrate was found 100% effective at 0‐0.5 h of exposure. While worms exposed to normal saline remained alive till 3hrs of post exposure (16.66% Effective). Thus Ficus bengalensis was found to be potent than F. religiosa and F. carica. Keywords: Anthelmintic activity, Ficus benghalensis, Ficus carica, Ficus religiosa, Pheretima posthuma. INTRODUCTION Medicinal plants have served through the ages, as a constant source of medicaments for the exposure of variety of diseases. The history of herbal medicine is as old as human civilization. The plants are known to provide a rich source of botanical anthelmintics, antibacterials and insecticides. 1, 2 There are more than 800 species and 2000 varieties of Ficus genus, most of which are native to old world tropics. Ficus benghalensis (Banyan tree), Ficus Religiosa (Pipal tree) and Ficus carica (Anjir tree) are some of the commonly occurring trees of this genus belonging to family Moraceae. 3, 4, 5 F. benghalensis, F. religiosa and F. carica were reported to have anthelmintic potential. Various extracts of roots of F. benghalensis were found not only to paralyze (Vermifuge) but also kill the earthworms (Vermicide). 6 Stem and bark extracts of F. Religiosa proved lethal to Ascaridia galli in vitro. 7 Methanolic extract of bark of F. Religiosa was 100% lethal to Haemonchus contortus worms. 8 The latex of some species of Ficus (Moraceae) i.e. F. inspida and F. carica was also reported to have anthelmintic activity. 9 Based on this an attempt has been made to compare and evaluate the anthelmintic potency of aqueous extracts of fruits of F. benghalensis , F. religiosa and F. carica. MATERIALS & METHODS Plant material Fresh fruits of F. benghalensis, F. religiosa and F. carica were collected from Raipur district, Chatttisgarh, India. These Plant materials were authenticated at the Department of Botany, Govt. Science College, Raipur. These fresh fruits were then crushed and used to obtain aqueous extracts. Preparation of extract Aqueous Extract (by decoction method) 200 G of fruits of Ficus benghalensis, Ficus carica and Ficus religiosa were boiled separately with 1500 ml of double distilled water for 1h. Then it were kept at room temperature for 24h and then filtered through the muslin cloth. The filtrate thus obtained was then concentrated to thick slurry and then residue was again boiled for 1h and filtered. The filtrate obtained was added to the thick slurry of first step. The resultant solutions thus obtained were boiled again to get thick concentrated extract. These are then dried and used as powders. The percentage yields were found to be 5.46%, 6.5%, 10.24% for Ficus benghalensis, Ficus carica and Ficus religiosa respectively. Experimental animals Indian adult earthworms (Pheretima posthuma) were used to study anthelmintic activity. The earthworms were collected from moist soil and washed with normal saline to remove all fecal matter. The earthworms of 3‐5 cm in length and 0.1‐ 0.2 cm in width were used for all experimental protocol. The earthworm resembles both anatomically and physiologically to the intestinal roundworms parasites of the human beings, hence can be used to study the anthelmintic activity. 7, 10 Drugs and chemicals Albendazole (Glaxo Smithkline Pvt. Ltd.), Dimethyl Formamide, DMF, (Thomos Baker Chemicals Pvt. Ltd.) were used during the experimental protocol. Anthelmintic activity For the anthelmintic activity of aqueous extract of fruits of F.benghalensis, F.religiosa and F. carica, the animals were divided in to five groups containing six earthworms in each group. All the extracts and standard drug solution were freshly prepared before starting the experiment. Extracts and the standard drug solution were freshly poured in different petridishes. All the earthworms were washed in normal saline before they were released into 10 ml of respective formulation as follows: Vehicle (5% DMF in normal Saline), albendazole (37.5 mg/ml), aqueous extract (37.5 mg/ml) of F. benghalensis, F. religiosa and F. carica. Observations were made on the motility/ survival of worms at 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 h post exposure (PE). The numbers of worms dead at 3 h post exposure to various plant extracts were compared statistically with those to control group by Z‐ test using Microsoft Excel 2000 program. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Preliminary phytochemical analysis showed the presence of carbohydrates, flavanoids, aminoacids, steroids, saponins and tannins like phytoconstituents. Some of these phytoconstituents are responsible for anthelmintic activity. It is evident from the observations in the table I F. benghalensis killed all the test worms within an hour of post exposure being 100% effective. F. religiosa was equally effective at 1‐2h of post exposure while F. carica was effective at 2‐3 h of post exposure. The results were compared with albendazole hydrate as positive control and normal saline water as negative control. Albendazole was found 100% effective at 0‐ 0.5 h of exposure while worms exposed to normal saline remained alive till 3 h of post exposure (33.33% Effective). International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences ISSN- 0975-1491 Vol 3, Suppl 2, 2011