ANTHELMINTIC AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITIES IN SOME SPECIES OF MULBERRY

Abstract

The present study explores the anthelmintic and antimicrobial activity of sequential leaf extracts of three Morus species viz . Morus alba, Morus serrata and Morus laevigata. Different concentrations of the extracts were tested for anthelmintic capacity by the determination of time of paralysis and death of Indian earthworms, Pheretima posthuma . Albendazole was used as the standard. The antimicrobial activity of the extracts was screened against five bacterial strains viz . Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris, Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella typhi, Shigella flexneri and two fungal strains viz . Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. The zone of inhibition was determined against the microorganisms. The effects of these extracts were compared to standard drugs, streptomycin and fluconazole. The order of anthelmintic and antimicrobial efficacy in the three species of mulberry were Morus alba > Morus serrata > Morus laevigata and the results are discussed.