To Develop and Evaluate A Tablet Formulation Containinng Cassia Alata Leaf Extract for Its Effectiveness in The Management of Helminthic Infections

Helminthic parasitic infections pose a significant challenge in livestock production systems, often reducing productivity and health in animals. The conventional strategy for controlling such infections largely relies on the use of anthelmintic drugs. However, the prolonged and widespread application of these drugs has led to the emergence of drug-resistant helminth strains, raising serious concerns about the sustainability of current treatment methods. Since only a limited number of effective compounds are available, careful use and strategic management are essential to prevent further resistance ^[1]. Helminthiasis, an infection caused by parasitic worms, has been recognized since ancient times and remains prevalent, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. Anthelmintic agents are substances used to destroy or expel intestinal worms. Those that eliminate parasites without killing them are called vermifuges, while those that kill them outright are known as vermicides. Historically, many early anthelmintics were derived from plant sources. Although many of these are now obsolete, Aspidium remains in occasional use. Notable developments in synthetic anthelmintics include the identification of isothiouronium salts with worm-killing properties, the introduction of mebendazole in 1971, and the synthesis of praziquantel by Seubert in 1975. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 1.5 billion people globally—approximately 24% of the world population—are affected by helminth infections. In India alone, about 258 million individuals are infected. Plants from the Cassia genus, especially abundant in India and particularly West Bengal, are known for various medicinal properties. Cassia alata has been traditionally valued for its antimicrobial, antifungal, purgative, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antitumor, and hypoglycemic effects ^[2]. Other species like Cassia angustifolia (known for its strong purgative action and its use in managing bowel movements) and Cassia occidentalis (used traditionally as a laxative, diuretic, and for treating fever, skin disorders, anemia, liver problems, and menstrual irregularities) have also been widely employed in traditional medicine. In Indian folk medicine, decoctions prepared from the leaves of C. alata and C. angustifolia are commonly used for treating gastrointestinal worm infestations. These leaves are frequently cited in medicinal plant databases for their relevance in managing intestinal parasitic diseases. Such infections are particularly widespread in developing countries, especially among children, where poor sanitation and hygiene are common (Chan, 1997). Additionally, concerns over the side effects of synthetic drugs have fueled a renewed interest in herbal alternatives, focusing on the therapeutic potential of plant-based remedies ^[3].

Plant Profile:                                                                          

General Information: -

Scientific name - Cassia alata

Common name - Candle brush

Origin North America

Availability-Generally available in many areas within with its hardness range.

Biological source: -It consists of fresh leaves of senna alata belongs to family Caesalpiniceae.

Organoleptic Properties: -

Colour: -Green

Odour: -Unpleasant                                                          

Taste: -Spicy

Description: -Height: -10-14 feet

Spread: -10-14

Crown uniformity: - irregular outline or silhouette

Crown shape: - Oval                                          

Crown density: - Open

Growth rate: Fast                                                                    

Fig No. 1: - Cassia alata

Texture: Coarse

Chemical Constituents: -The constituents present in Cassia alata are flavones, flavonols, flavonoids glycosides, alatinon, alanonal and beta-sitosterol-beta-D-glcosides.

Uses: -

• Antibacterial Activity
• Antifungal Activity
• Antioxidant Effect
• Wound Healing Activity
• Anticancer Activity
• Anti-inflammatory Activity ^[4].

METHODS AND MATERIALS:

Extraction and isolation of phytoconstituents: -

• The whole leaves of plant were wash in water and air-dried under shade for period of two weeks after which they were ground to powder with mechanical grinder.
• 150g of powder were extracted by soxhlet apparatus using diethyl ether as solvent near about 6 hours for removing all the fatty oils unwanted sticky substances.
• Then same leaf of powder is taken in soxhlet by the chloroform as solvent to separate secondary metabolite.
• Then the above procedure was repeated with the help of alcoholic solvent as ethanol then final crude extract was recovered ^[5].

Preliminary Phytochemical Screening

Preliminary phytochemical screening of the different crude drug/formulation using alcohol as solvents for the presence of various phytoconstituents was carried out using following methods ^[5]. For phytochemical screening and further evaluation, the extraction of marketed and in-house formulation of Cassia alata Anthelmintics Gutika were carried out.

Phytochemical Screening:

1. Test for Glycosides.
2. Test for Alkaloids.
3. Test for Flavonoids.
4. Test for Tannins.
5. Test for Phenolic.

PHYSICAL EVALUATION:

Determination of Total ash: Total ash method is used to measure the total amount of material remaining after incineration is called total ash. Determination of total Ash value is determined for identity and purity of gutika. A high ash value is indicative of contamination, substitution, adulteration, presence of silica, rice husk or careless in preparing the drug ^[6,7].

Formula: Percentage of total ash = Weight of ash x 100 /Weight of sample.

Thin Layer Chromatography:

Thin layer chromatography can be defined as a method of separation or identification of a mixture of components into individual components into individual components by using finely divided adsorbent solid (liquid) spread over a glass plate and liquid as a mobile phase. It is based on the principle of adsorption chromatography or partition chromatography or combination of both. TLC plate is prepared by using fur methods i.e. pouring, dipping, spraying& spreading^{. [5,11]} After development of plates, they were air-dried and Rf. values were calculated. The Rf value (Retention Factor) was calculated as follows

  Rf=      Distance traveled by the sample

             Distance traveled by the solvent

Table No. 1: TLC Table

PHARMACEUTICAL PARAMETERS

1) Hardness:

Hardness the measure of the mechanical integrity of the ghutika it is the force required to break the gutika in a specific plan. the gutika must have a specific strength and hardness to able the with stand mechanical shaking during manufacturing packaging and transport. Pfizer’s tablet hardness tester was use to independently test the randomly chosen tablet ^[8].

2) Friability test:

The friability is measured by the amount of weight loss following tumbling. friability test is conducted in the Roche friability apparatus by taking 20 gutika. This is consisting of plastic drum that revolves at 25rpm dropping the gutika through 6 inches in a fibrillatory to undergo shock, which is then operated for 100 revolutions the gutika are reweighed. The gutika lose less than 1.0 percent than the ghutika weight are consider as acceptable ^[8].

• Weight variation test
• The weight variation test perform with ghutika the desired amount of gutika in number are taken weight variation test is perform where there is any variation in gutika if its variation more than desired limit which is 5% should not cross. Weight 20 tablet and then its average weight is calculated.

3) Disintegration time:

The state in which no residue of the gutika remains on the remains on the screen of apparatus. This test will determine whether the gutika disintegrates within a specified time when it is placed in liquid medium under the control prescribed experimental condition.

Disintegration weight of gutika=15min

4) Dissolution time:

The time required for the dissolve gutika in a sample solution is Dissolution time of gutika is 14min ^[9,10].

Pharmacological In-Vitro Study:

The anthelmintic study was carried both Ethanolic Extract and Chloroform Extract were dissolved in normal water containing diluted to get concentrations of 10,25,50 mg/ml. Albendazole (10 mg/ml) was used as the standard drug. All the drug and extract solutions were freshly prepared before starting the experiment. Three group, with one earth-worms each, were placed into 10ml of desired formulations as following: Vehicle (normal saline), Albendazole (10mg/ml), and one sets of three different groups were treated with extracts of respective concentrations. Observations were made for the time taken until the paralysis and death of individual worms. The paralysis was said to occur when the worms were not able to move even in normal saline. Death was concluded when the worms lost their mortility followed with fading away their body colors ^[12].

Fig No .3: Standard Albendazole (10mg/ml)

Fig No.5: Control Group

RESULT:

Table No.2: Organoleptic characteristics of Cassia alata leaflet.

Table No.3: Tablet evaluation

Table No. 4: Pharmacological In-vitro study

Table No. 5: Preliminary evaluation of Crude Drug.

Fig No.6: TLC Plate

Table No. 6: TLC Table of Drug Extract