Pharmacological Evaluation of Bark Extract of Cinnamonum zeylanicum With Cinchona officinalis For Its Synergistic Action on Antihelmintic Activity

Abstract

The present investigation aimed to assess the pharmacological potential of a mixed bark aqueous extract (MBAE) prepared from Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Cinchona officinalis for its synergistic anthelmintic activity. Barks of both plants were sourced from local markets in Vijayawada and Nuzvid, shade-dried, powdered, and extracted with distilled water. The extract was subjected to preliminary phytochemical analysis using standard procedures. Anthelmintic activity of MBAE was evaluated against Indian earthworms (Pheretima posthuma) collected from a local vermicomposting unit in Nuzvid. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, phenols, tannins, and phytosterols. Statistical evaluation using one-way ANOVA (Graph Pad Prism) indicated highly significant results (P < 0.0001). MBAE reduced the time to paralysis and death in earthworms more effectively than the standard reference drug, albendazole. These findings suggest that the synergistic action of C. zeylanicum and C. officinalis, likely due to their polyphenolic constituents, plays an important role in enhancing anthelmintic activity.