Abstract
Senna alexandrina Mill. has been used for antimicrobial activity. In the present study, the crude ethanolic extract of the plant and a synthetic compound Sennoside were tested in vitro on Hymenolepis diminuta to evaluate its potential anthelmintic efficacy through ultrastructural changes. Worms were maintained between rat model and beetle and the test parasites were exposed to different concentrations of crude ethanolic leaf extracts of S. alexandrina. Praziquantel was used as a reference drug. Dose dependent efficacy was observed in terms of motility and time of mortality in all treated parasites. Ultrastructural micrography revealed irrevocable destruction all over the body tegument accompanied with sloughing of microtriches and swellings of the basal lamina. Vacuolization of the syncytium along with sparsely cytoplasmic cytons and depletion of parenchymatous layer were observed accompanied by deformities in the cell organelles. Extensive deformities in the tegument indicates that the plant extract alter membrane permeability of the parasite leading to paralysis and subsequent death. Thus, S. alexandrina can be regarded as a potential anthelmintic agent.