Curcin from Jatropha curcas seed as a potential anthelmintic

Abstract

The study was done with the aim to evaluate the anthelmintic activity of curcin from Jatropha curcas seed using adult Pheritima posthuma against Niclosamide (15 mg/ml) as standard references and normal saline as control. The activities of the possible crude curcin was be determined on the tested parasites in this study so as to verify if the J. curcas seed would be a potential sources of useful anthelminthic drugs by monitoring the time to achieve paralysis of the worms was determined. In the acute toxicity test, toxic signs were observed at 300 mg/kg. However, the P. posthuma displayed physical changes with LD₅₀ of 800 mg/kg per body weight. The toxicity of curcin in P. posthuma is high; however, caution should be exercised in its use especially at high doses.

Keywords: Jatropha curcas, immounotoxins, crude curcin, niclosamide, Pheretima posthuma and anthelmintic activity.