Evaluating the anthelmintic potential of leaf gall extracts of Terminalia chebula (Gaertn.) Retz. (Combretaceae)

Objective: Terminalia chebula gall extracts are widely used Asian folk and traditional medicine. The present study was carried out to evaluate the anthelmintic potential of different extracts of leaf galls. Materials and Methods: The anthelmintic activity was assessed by applying five different concentrations of the plant extracts on Indian adult earthworms, and the time of paralysis and death was recorded. Results: The ethanolic extract processed potent anthelmintic activity, when compared to the other extracts. The lowest time for paralysis and death of worms, for test sample at highest concentration (250 mg/ml), were found to be 7.30 +/- 2.66 and 14 +/- 0.58 min, respectively. Albendazole, which was used as standard, caused paralysis and death of worms at 07.00 +/- 3.55 min and 12.60 +/- 2.01 min, respectively; whereas no mortality of the worms was observed, when distilled water was used as control. The presences of phenolics, flavonoids, triterpens, saponins, glycosides, phytosterols, reducing sugars were identified in the extracts and the significant anthelmintic property of T. chebula might be due to the presence of alkaloids, phenolic compounds, and flavanoids. Conclusion: The results of this study establishes the antihelmentic activities of T. chebula leaf gall extracts and justify the ethnobotanical approach in the search for novel bioactive compounds. The anthelmintic potential of T. chebula extracts may be due to the presence of phyto-constituents like alkaloids, phenolic compounds, and flavanoids. Future work will be interesting to know the chemical composition and better understand the mechanism of action of the antioxidants present in the extract for development as drug for therapeutic application.