STUDY ON ZINGIBER CHRYSANTHUM ROSC. RHIZOME ESSENTIAL OIL FOR ITS ANTHELMINTIC ANTI-DIARRHOEAL AND ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITIES.

Manisha Arora, Mahesh Chandra, H. Tewari , Jugendra Pal , A.K.Pant,
A.H. Ahmad and Om Prakash*

ABSTRACT

Zingiber chrysanthum Rosc.(Zingiberaceae) rhizome essential oil (ZCREO) was studied for its effect on isometric contractions of Ascaridia galli. The amplitude and frequency of spontaneous contractions of A. galli were recorded on physiograph through force transducer. The oil exhibited significant effect and percent response inhibition on the contractility of A galli in terms of amplitude frequency and base line tension in dose dependent manner with an IC50 value of 6.25 ± 0.23 mg/ml. Antidarrhoeal activity of ZCREO was also evaluated on castor oil-induced diarrhea in mice. The oil showed dose dependent increase in time of onset of first wet faeces and reduces total number of faeces and number of wet faeces. This indicates that ZCREO reduces peristaltic movements of gastro-intestinal tract, and acts as potent anti-diarrheal drug. The oil exhibited moderate antibacterial activity against pathogenic bacteria viz; E.coli, S.enterica enterica, P.multocida and S. aureus with MIC values ranging 3.90-31.25 μl/ml.

Keywords: Ziniber chrysanthum, anthelmintic, castor oil, antidarrhoeal activity, antibacterial activity.