Anthelmintic Efficacy of Luffa cylindrica in Relation to its: Phytoconstituents: Spectroscopic Characterization

Worldwide, helminthic infections continue to be a significant public health concern, and the search for safer plant-derived substitutes has been fuelled by resistance to current anthelmintic medications. Traditionally employed in herbal medicine, Luffa cylindrica (Cucurbitaceae) has a variety of bioactive chemicals that may have antiparasitic properties. This study used Pheretima posthuma (Indian earthworm) as an experimental model to assess the anthelmintic efficiency of the methanolic leaf extract of Luffa cylindrica. The existence of tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, and cucurbitacin’s was verified by physicochemical parameters, extractive values, and first phytochemical screening. The identification of functional groups and secondary metabolites connected to pharmacological actions was further supported by TLC, UV-visible, FTIR, and mass spectroscopy. According to in vitro tests, the extract significantly paralyzed and killed the worms in a dose-dependent manner. At the highest concentration (200 mg/ml), the extract showed effects comparable to Albendazole (20 mg/ml), used as the standard reference. The results support the long-standing use of Luffa cylindrica as an anthelmintic agent and imply that its bioactive components might work by interfering with helminths' neuromuscular activity and metabolic processes. Luffa cylindrica is a viable possibility for the creation of innovative, plant-based anthelmintic treatments, according to the study. To prove safety and efficacy, more mechanistic and in vivo research is required.