Evaluation of anthelmintic activity of some members of family Moraceae

The present investigation was developed to evaluate the anthelmintic activity of some members of family Moraceae. The selected plants were Ficus bengalensis, Ficus religiosa, Ficus glomerata, Morus indica and Morus laevigata. Anthelmintic activity was carried out by the preparation of methanolic extracts of different parts of these selected plants. For anthelmintic activity, the dried leaves of F. bengalensis, F. religiosa and F. glomerata, dried fruits and leaves of M. indica and M. laevigata were extracted with water and methanol for anthelmintic activity. Anthelmintic studies indicated that the methanolic extracts of F. bengalensis, F. religiosa, F. glomerata, M. indica and M. laevigatasignificantly caused paralysis (12.50 ± 0.50, 25 ± 1.00, 19.50 ± 0.50, 15.50 ± 0.50 and 9.50 ± 0.50, respectively), and death (70.50 ± 0.50, 68.5 ± 0.50, 69.00 ± 1.00, 43.50 ± 0.50 and 40.00 ± 1.32, respectively) of worms especially at higher concentration (100 mg/ml) compared with reference drug sample of Albendazole (Paralysis time: 10.60 ± 0.53 and Death time: 36.27 ± 1.42).   Key words: Anthelmintic activity, Moraceae, methanolic extracts, aqueous extracts.