| Summary: | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Saponins isolated from plant sources have a number of traditional and industrial applications. Saponins have pharmacological effects like anti-inflammatory, molluscicidal, antimicrobial, antispasmodic, antidiabetic, anticancer, anticonvulsant, anthelmintic, antitussive and cytotoxic activities. The current work describes the anthelmintic and cytotoxic activities of crude saponins of <it>Achillea Wilhelmsii </it>and <it>Teucrium Stocksianum </it>as these plants are rich with saponins.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Brine shrimp cytotoxic activity of crude saponins was determined by Meyer et al. (1982) at test concentrations of 1000 μg/ml, 100 μg/ml, 10 μg/ml, 7.5 μg/ml, 5.0 μg/ml, 2.5 μg/ml and 1.25 μg/ml. Percentage mortality of test concentrations was determined. Similarly, in <it>vitro </it>anthelmintic activity was determined against roundworms, tapeworms and earthworms. Albendazole and piperazine citrate at concentration 10 mg/ml were used as standard anthelmintic drugs.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Crude saponins of <it>Achillea wilhelmsii </it>(CSA) and <it>Teucrium stocksianum </it>(CST) had, respectively, cytotoxic activity with LC<sub>50 </sub>values 2.3 ± 0.16 and 5.23 ± 0. 34 μg/ml. For in <it>vitro </it>anthelmintic activity, time for paralysis and death of parasites (parasiticidal activity) was noted. At concentration 40 mg/ml, crude saponins of <it>Achillea wilhelmsii </it>are 1.96 and 2.12 times more potent than albendazole against <it>Pheretima posthuma </it>and <it>Raillietina spiralis</it>, respectively. Similarly, at concentration 40 mg/ml, crude saponins of <it>Teucrium stocksianum </it>(CST) has 1.89, 1.96 and 1.37 times more parasiticidal activity than albendazole against <it>Pheretima posthuma, Raillietina spiralis </it>and <it>Ascardia galli</it>, respectively.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Crude saponins of <it>Achillea wilhelmsii </it>and <it>Teucrium stocksianum </it>have cytotoxic and anthelmintic activity. The crude saponins may be excellent sources of cytotoxic and anthelmintic constituents that warrant its isolation and purification for new drug development.</p>
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