Anthelmentic Activity of Tridax   procumbens Linn Leaves on Indian Earthworms

An aqueous extract of plant produces reflex tachycardia and showed a transient hypotensive effect on the normal blood pressure. After authentication, fresh leaves of plant were collected in bulk, washed under running tap water, dried under shade for a period of 7 days and then pulverized in mechanical grinder to obtain coarse powder. [13] The assay was performed in vitro using adult earthworm (Pheretima Posthuma) owing to its anatomical and physiological resemblance with the intestinal roundworm parasites of human beings for preliminary evaluation anthelmintic activity. [14, 15, 16] Test samples of the extracts were prepared at the concentrations 25 and 50 mg/ml in distilled water and three worms i.e. Pheretima posthuma of approximately equal size (same type) were placed in each 9 cm Petri dish containing 25 ml of above test solution of extracts.