IN-VITRO ANTHELMINTIC ACTIVITY OF ROOT-TUBER EXTRACT OF FLEMINGIA-VESTITA, AN INDIGENOUS PLANT IN SHILLONG, INDIA

The in vitro activity of root-tuber-peel extract of Flemingia vestita, an indigenous plant consumed by the natives in Northeast India, was t ested against helminth parasites. Live parasites (nematode: Ascaris su um from pigs, A. lumbricoides from humans, Ascaridia galli and Heterak is gallinarum from domestic fowl; cestode: Raillietina echinobothrida from domestic fowl; trematode: Paramphistomum sp. from cattle) were co llected in 0.9% physiological buffered saline (PBS) and maintained at 37 +/- 1 degrees C. In vitro treatment of the parasites with the crude extract (50 mg/ml) in PBS revealed complete immobilization of the tre matode and cestode in about 43 and 20 min, respectively. However, the cuticle-covered nematodes did not show any change in physical activity and remained viable even after a long period of exposure to the extra ct. Exposure of R. echinobothrida to genistein (0.5 mg/ml), an active principle isolated from the root-tuber peel, caused spontaneous loss o f movement (paralysis) in 4.5 h, which was slower than the time requir ed for praziquantel, the reference flukicide and cestodicide. The trea ted parasites showed structural alteration in their tegumental archite cture. This study suggests the vermifugal activity of this plant extra ct against trematodes and cestodes.