PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF SEED OF MEDICINAL HERB, ARECA CATECHU LINN. AND EVALUATION OF IN-VITRO ANTHELMINTIC ACTIVITY OF ARECOLINE IN AQUEOUS AND ORGANIC EXTRACTS

The objective of the study was to extract the active constituent of Areca catechu Linn (Arecaceae) and evaluate the anthelmintic effect of arecoline. liquid liquid extraction was used to extract the arecoline from areca nut. polar and nonpolar solvents were used for extraction. The anthelmintic activity was performed by in vitro studies using adult earthworm (Pheretima posthuma). The anthelminitic test was performed for both extracts and the results compared by using piperazine citrate as reference standard. Water and Hexane there used as polar and non polar solvent for extraction. The hexane extract produced maximum anthelmintic activity with minimum concentration.The hexane and aqueous extracts of nuts of areca catechu exhibited significant anthelmintic activity, as evidenced by decreased paralyzing time and death time. The results support the use of areca catechu as an anthelmintic agent.