Preliminary Phytochemical Screening and Anthelmintic Activity of Artemisia vulgaris Linn

Artemisia is an annual herbaceous, diverse group of plants. It comprises over 500 species distributed across temperate and cold-temperature zones worldwide. These plants are traditionally known for their vermicidal properties. The plant, namely Artemisia vulgaris Linn, belongs to the family Asteraceae. The phytochemical screening of the plant extracts identified the presence of various compounds, including alkaloids, steroids, terpenoids, and cardiac glycosides. These compounds are known to have diverse biological activities and can contribute to the medicinal properties of plants. The total phenolic contents were determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu method, using gallic acid as a standard. To assess the anthelmintic activity, earthworms (Pheretima posthuma) were used as a screening model. Three types of extracts of the plant leaves were prepared, i.e., petroleum ether, chloroform and hydroalcoholic extract. Various concentrations (5, 10, 15, 20, and 25mg/ml) of the extracts were evaluated for their anthelmintic activity. The results were compared with the results of the reference standard, piperazine (5, 10, 15, 20, and 25mg/ml). The results of the study indicated that the extracts of Artemisia vulgaris Linn possessed potent anthelmintic activity when compared to the reference standard, piperazine. The significance of these findings suggests that the extracts from Artemisia vulgaris Linn may have potential as natural anthelmintic agents. However, it's important to note that further research and studies are necessary to fully understand the mechanism of action and determine the efficacy, safety, and appropriate dosage of these plant extracts for use as anthelmintics in clinical settings.