Anthelmintic Screening of the Stem Bark of Berlina grandiflora

Objective: To screen the anthelmintic properties of Berlina grandiflora. Materials and methods: The dried stem bark of Berlina grandiflora was extracted with 95% ethanol. Hexane, ethyl acetate and methanolic fractions were obtained successively from crude 95% ethanolic extract, leaving behind a crystalline residue. The crude extract and the resulting fractions were screened for anthelmintic activity and compared with piperazine using rats infected with Nippostrongylus brasiliensis. Qualitative phytochemical analysis was performed on the ethanolic extract and the residue. Results: At a dose of 100 mg/kg orally, the extracts have caused over 50% deparasitization in rats infected with Nippostrongylus brasiliensis. The highest anthelmintic activity was recorded in rats treated with the residue. The residue was found to be rich in tannins. Conclusion: Berlina grandiflora exhibits remarkable anthelmintic activity against N. brasiliensis and the results substantiate its traditional use as an anthelmintic.