A Review Article on Antihelminthic Activity of Ethanolic Extract of Dragon Fruit Peel Powder

The study aimed to evaluate the anthelmintic activity of ethanolic extract derived from dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus) peel powder. The peels were collected, shade-dried, and subjected to Soxhlet extraction using ethanol. Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, saponins, and carbohydrates. Pheretima posthuma, a commonly used model organism due to its physiological similarity to human intestinal parasites, was used to assess anthelmintic efficacy. The extract was tested at concentrations of 25 mg/ml and 50 mg/ml, with albendazole serving as the standard reference drug. The extract demonstrated dose-dependent anthelmintic activity, with the 50 mg/ml concentration showing significantly reduced times for paralysis and death of the worms compared to the control and standard drug. The findings suggest that dragon fruit peel, a commonly discarded waste, possesses significant anthelmintic potential and could serve as a natural alternative or supplement to synthetic drugs.