The Anthelmintic Activity of Some Iraqi Plants of the Cucurbitaceae

Abstract

The anthelmintic efficacy of four plants of the Cucurbitaceae against Hymenolepis nana (tapeworm) and Aspicularis tetraptera (pinworm) infections in mice was evaluated utilizing piperazine citrate as a reference substance for comparison. The ethanolic extracts of the seeds of Cucumis sativus, Cucurbita maxima and Lagenaria siceraria exhibited a potent activity against tapeworms which was comparable to the effect of piperazine citrate. Some activity against pinworms was demonstrated by seeds of Cucurbita maxima.