ASSESSMENT OF ANTHELMINTIC ACTIVITY OF CINNAMIC ACID AND ITS THREE ANALOGS: A COMBINED INVITRO AND INSILICO STUDY

Concern over anthelmintic resistance is a global issue, and researchers are exploring plant-derived compounds for their effectiveness against gastrointestinal nematodes. Cinnamic acid and its primary hydroxy derivatives, including p-coumaric, ferulic, and caffeic acids, are phenolic compounds that are abundant in plants and possess numerous therapeutic properties. This investigation aimed to determine the anthelmintic properties of these compounds.Anthelmintic potential of cinnamic acid and its analogs were investigated on the Indian earthworm species, PheretimaPosthuma.The duration required for paralysis and subsequent death of earthworms was recorded in minutes. The selected compounds exhibited a more potent anthelmintic effect than the conventional medication albendazole. The structural characteristics of these potential compounds were explored using in silico techniques. Molecular docking results displayed that cinnamic acid and its hydroxy derivatives were efficiently binding with tubular proteins, implying that they possess significant anthelmintic activity.