Anthelmintic activity of Clerodendrum viscosum

Anthelmintic efficacy of Clerodendrum viscosum on fowl tapeworm Raillietina tetragona

CONTEXT

Clerodendrum viscosum Vent. (Verbenaceae) is a shrub, widely used amongst the natives of India against various diseases.

OBJECTIVE

Crude extract of the plant was tested in vitro on a tapeworm Raillietina tetragona Molin (Davaineidae) to evaluate its potential anthelmintic efficacy and ultrastructural changes in the parasite.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Parasites were exposed to different concentrations of ethanolic leaf extract (10-80 mg/mL) and praziquantel (0.0005-0.005 mg/mL) and incubated in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). The pH was 7.4 at 37 °C, while one set of worms was incubated only with PBS as a control. Permanent immobilization of worms was determined visually when no motility occurred on physically disturbing them. The parasites exposed to high concentrations of leaf extract and praziquantel treatments were processed for histological and electron microscopic studies, as these concentrations took the least time for paralysis and death to occur.

RESULT

With an increase in the concentration of the leaf extract from 10 to 80 mg/mL and praziquantel from 0.0005 to 0.005 mg/mL, the time for the onset of paralysis and death was shortened. The treated parasites lost their spontaneous movement rapidly followed by death. Electron microscopic observations revealed disruptions in the tegument and parenchymal layer, accompanied by deformities in cell organelles.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Extensive structural alterations in the tegument indicate that the plant-derived components cause permeability changes in the parasite leading to paralysis and subsequent death. These observations suggest that phytochemicals present in C. viscosum have vermifugal or vermicidal activity, and thus may be exploited as alternative chemotherapeutic agents.

Comparative phytochemical profiling of Clerodendrum infortunatum with some selected medicinal plants predominant in the Sub-Himalayan region of West Bengal

BACKGROUND

The aim of the present study was to quantify the phytochemicals of Clerodendrum infortunatum root and correlate on the basis of phytochemicals present with other medicinal plants belonging to different families.

METHODS

Various standard biochemical and spectrophotometric methods were employed to study the phytochemical status of the root of C. infortunatum. All the analysis was performed in multiple sets. Various statistical methods like principal component analysis, dendogram, Euclidean distance and correlation study were done to compare the phytochemical profile of C. infortunatum with different selected medicinal plants belonging to different families.

RESULTS

Results indicated the presence of various phytochemicals like phenol, alkaloid, flavonoid, tannin, thiamine, riboflavin, etc. Among the estimated phytochemicals, phenol had the highest quantity (65.59±1.26 mg/g) followed by lipid (27.51±0.23 mg/g) and tannin (16.40±0.07 mg/100 g). The phytochemical contents of C. infortunatum are much higher than those of the other reference plants.

CONCLUSIONS

It may be concluded from the present study that the root of C. infortunatum contains very high amount of phytochemicals which are chiefly responsible for various medicinal properties. Therefore, the presence of the bioactive compounds in high quantity may lead to the potent medicinal value of C. infortunatum root.

Clerodendrum viscosum: traditional uses, pharmacological activities and phytochemical constituents

Clerodendrum viscosum is widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of the world particularly in India. Extracts from different parts of the plant have been used elaborately in Ayurveda and Unani for treating different illness. Many phytochemicals were isolated from various parts of the plant, but their pharmacological potentials have not been largely explored. This review focuses on all these aspects of the plant keeping in view the cultural and traditional acceptability of its medicinal use. Its toxicological data are limited and require investigation to address for safety issues prior to recommendating for pharmaceutical use.