Anstract
Nerium indicum Mill belonging to the family Apocynaceae is a wild plant known kaner in Hindi as well as exile tree, Indian oleander. It is a well known ornamental plant according to the literature survey and also, it is an important medicinal plant. Phytochemical study of the plant roots reveals that the plant contains various phytoconstituents like glycosides, flavonoids, carbohydrates, tannins and steroids. Hence roots of the plant was collected, authenticated, powdered and extracted with various solvents by hot percolation to obtain petroleum ether, chloroform, & ethanol extracts and also cold maceration to obtain ethanol extract and evaluated for its anthelmintic activity on adult Indian earthworms (Pheritima posthuma), which have anatomical and physiological resemblance with the intestinal roundworms parasites of human beings. In concentration of 10 mg/ml, 30 mg/ml, 50 mg/ml & 100 mg/ml. Ethanolic extract found to be more active as compared to remaining extracts. The Ethanolic extract demonstrated paralysis as well as death of worms in a less time as compared to other extracts and albendazole at higher concentration (100mg/ml); although all extracts shows standard comparable activity at 50mg/ml and 100mg/ml concentration.
