In Vitro Antioxidant and Anthelmintic Activity of the Extracts of Whole Plant Crotalaria Biflora (L)

Abstract

Various biological activities of the genus “Crotalaria” was reported in several studies. In this study, the antioxidant and anthelmintic activity of the whole plant Crotalaria biflora was evaluated. The plant material was collected, identified and authenticated and extracted with different solvents such as petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol in soxhlet apparatus. Dried extracts thus obtained were used for the evaluation. Antioxidant activity of the extracts was evaluated by DPPH, reducing power assay, superoxide, nitric oxide and hydroxyl free radical scavenging assay methods. Anthelmintic activity was assessed by using the earthworm, Pheretima postuma. From the results of both antioxidant and anthelmintic evaluation, it was found that among the different concentration employed for the evaluation, the highest concentration of test extracts showed their maximum activity. Among these, the methanol extract showed a very significant activity comparing with other tested extracts and standard agents employed for the comparative evaluation followed by ethyl acetate extract showed a significant activity. Findings of this study clearly indicated the potential of methanol extract of the whole plant C. biflora in the tested biological activities. Future studies on this extract may give more significant results.