Phytochemical Screening and Anthelmintic Activities of Andrachne cordifolia

The present work was done to assess the phytochemical screening and anthelmintic potential of leaves and bark of andrachne cordifolia (wall. ex decne.) muell. the phytochemical screening for reducing sugars,terpenoids,cardiac glycosides,flavonoids,saponins,anthraquinones and alkaloids was performed. saponins,terpenoids and tannins were reported in all the extracts. anthelmintic activity of the extracts was carried out at four concentrations 20,50,80,100 mg/ml. the time taken for death and paralysis of haemonchus contortous were determined. significance anthelmintic potential was shown by all the macerates which was dose dependent and compared to standard piperazine citrate. chloroform macerate of leaf and petroleum ether extract of bark showed good activity. this may be because of the vicinity of phytochemical constituents like terpenoids,saponins and tannins in the plants. the results indicated that plant has secondary metabolites that have broad anthelmintic properties and plant might be a novel source of pharmaceutical drugs against helminthes.