EVALUATION OF IN-VITRO ANTHELMENTIC ACTIVITY OF BETA VULGARIS

Plant products are of increasing interest in the search for new drugs and medicines in the treatment of diseases; and the discovery of new alternatives to existing commercially available drugs is an important area of this research due to pathogen resistance. The present investigation focused on the screening of anthelmintic potential of pet-ether, benzene, ethanol and aqueous extracts of the plant beet root (Beta vulgaris). The crude extract of the Beta vulgaris with pet ether, benzene, ethanol and aqueous were screened for anthelmintic activity against Indian adult earthworm Pheretima posthuma. The in-vitro anthelmintic activity was performed by using standard procedures. The comparison of the paralysis time and death time in different extracts with respect to the standard showed that the ethanol extract had most significant activity than petroleum ether; benzene and aqueous extract. The phyto-chemical constituents like flavanoids and alkaloids may be responsible for the activity. Finally our study conclude that Beta vulgaris has significant anti-helminthic activity and potential to develop as useful and safe alternative to the other existing drugs which are having more side-effects and resistance. The ethanolic extracts exhibited highest activity against Indian adult earthworms whereas the other extracts exhibited positive activity. The results obtained in the present study suggest that the ethanol extract of Beta vulgaris revealed scope to develop a novel broad spectrum of anthelmintic medicinal plants.