Research ArticleOpen Access

Antifilarial Activity of Gymnema Sylvestre R. Br Leaves Against Brugia Malayi

Volume 7 - Issue 3

**Vijai Lakshmi*¹ and Shailja Misra Bhattacharya²**

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- ¹Division of Medicinal and Process Chemistry, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, India
- ²Division of parasitology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, India
*Corresponding author: Vijai Lakshmi, Division of Medicinal and Process Chemistry, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Uttar Pradesh, India

Received: July 4, 2018; Published: August 01, 2018

DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2018.07.001519

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Abstract

The present study is aimed to evaluate the anti-filarial activity of Gymnema sylvestre (Asclepiadaceae), against human lymphatic filarial parasite Brugia malayi in vitro and in vivo. The ethanolic extract of the leaves was tested in vitro on adult worms and microfilariae (mf) of B. malayi and the active sample was further evaluated in vivo in B. malayi intraperitoneally (i.p.) transplanted in the jird model (Meriones unguiculatus) and Mastomys coucha subcutaneously infected with infective larvae (L3). The ethanolic extract of the leaves of the G. sylvestre was tested in vitro on adult worms and microfilariae (mf) of B. Malayi and the active sample was further evaluated in vivo in B. malayi. The ethanolic extract was active in vitro (IC50: adult= 65.0 μg/ml; mf = 32.5. μg/ml) where it demonstrated 65.0% adulticidal and embryostatic effect on B malayi in Mastomys at a dose of 5 × 100mg/kg by oral route. The antifilarial test conducted was at 5×100mg/kg by subcutaneous route revealed excellent adulticidal efficacy resulting in to the death of 65.0% transplanted adult B. Malayi in the peritoneal cavity of jirds in addition to noticeable microfilaricidal action on the day of autopsy. The findings revealed that the extract from the leaves of G. Sylvestre contains promising in vitro and in vivo antifilarial activity against human lymphatic filarial parasite B. malayi which may be further explored to new antifilarial agents.

Keywords: G. Sylvestre; Antifilarial Activity; In Vitro; In Vivo; B Malayi

Abbreviations: IP: microfilariae; MF: Microfilariae; CSIR: Central Drug Research Institute; PBS: Phosphate Buffer Saline