Abida Khan, Hidayatullah Tak, Ruqiaya Nazir, Bashir A Lone and Javaid A Parray
Objective: The present study was undertaken to elucidate the anthelmintic and antimicrobial activities of Fumaria indica.
Methods: The methanolic extract of Fumaria indica was evaluated for in vitro anthelmintic efficacy against gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep (Haemonchus contortus) using adult motility assay. In vitro antimicrobial activities of various concentrations ranging from 100 to 500 mg/ml of alcoholic (methanol) extracts of Fumaria indica were analyzed on different clinical bacterial strains (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas multocida and Klebsiella pneumonia) and fungal strains (Aspergillus flavus, Candida kruesie and Candida albicans) using agar disk diffusion method and broth dilution method (MIC and MBC determination) for antimicrobial activity.
Results: Crude methanol extract of Fumaria indica resulted in mean percentage mortality of 94.44%, as observed after the worms were put in lukewarm PBS for 30 min after exposure to different treatments (p<0.01). Highest mortality (95.00%) of worms was observed 8 hours post-exposure @ 50 mg/ml. There was 100% mortality of worms in Levamisole (used as a reference drug) within 4 hours post-exposure. In vitro antimicrobial activity results revealed that methanol extract of F. indica possess greater antibacterial activity than antifungal activity. MIC and MBC of methanolic extract showed that MIC values were 150 ml/ml against E. coli and 250 ml/ml.
Conclusions: It can be concluded that Fumaria indica has got a broad spectrum in vitro anthelmintic and antimicrobial activity and could be used as a potential alternative for treating various diseases.