Abstract
Rhizomes of Curcuma caesia, commonly known as Kali Haldi/Black Turmeric, available in many parts of India has many medicinal properties. Curcuma caesia reported for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic properties in many studies but very few studies done for its potential anthelmintic activity. Hence, our present study aimed at reporting the anthelmintic properties of Curcuma caesia. For the present study, three extracts (ethanol, chloroform and aqueous) of rhizomes of Curcuma caesia at three concentrations (25mg/dl, 50mg/dl, 100mg/dl) of each extract was studied for anthelmintic property. Albendazole (20mg/dl) was taken as standard. Anthelmintic study include, determining the time taken for paralysis and death of earthworms in the presence of test samples. The results indicated that the most effective sample for inducing paralysis in earthworms is ethanolic extract (100mg/dl) by 18.06±0.74 min and chloroform extract (100mg/dl) by 16.24±0.86 min, and among the three extracts, ethanolic extract (100mg/dl) is effective in causing death in 36.81±1.13min. Whereas the standard Albendazole (20mg/dl) caused paralysis of earthworms in 23.09±1.56 min and death in 37.20± 1.74 min. The present study reveals that rhizomes of Curcuma caesia have potential vermifuge activity than vermicidal activity in comparision with satandard Albendazolev in.a dose dependent manner.
