PHARMACOGNOSTICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON STAMENS OF MESUA FERREA AS POTENT ANTHELMINTIC AGENT

Nagkesar (Mesua ferrea Linn.) belonging to the family Guttiferae, has a great medicinal value, so far, proper pharmacognostical and phytochemical studies of stamens have not been reported. Morphological and anatomical aspects as well as differential microchemical response have been worked out to identify the diagnostic features of the stamens. Physical constant values involving moisture content, ash and extractives as well as qualitative and quantitative estimation of various phytochemicals have been studied. The hydro-alcoholic extracts of Mesua ferrea were evaluated for anthelmintic activity using adult earthworms; the extract of Mesua ferrea exhibited a dose dependent inhibition of spontaneous motility (paralysis) and evoked responses to pin-prick. With lower doses the effects were comparable with that of albendazole. However, there was no final recovery in the case of worms treated with hydro-alcoholic extract. The result showed that the hydro-alcoholic extract possessed wormicidal activity and thus, may be useful as an anthelmintic.