Antifilarial activity of ethyl acetate extract of Vitex negundo leaves in vitro

Objective:To evaluate the possible antifilarial effect of ethyl acetate extract of Vitex negundo(Verhenaceae)leaves against Selaria cervi filarial parasite in vitro.Methods:In vitro screening was done by the method of motility inhibition and NTT reduction assay with concentralions of0.03 to 1.00 mg/mL for 2 to 24 h incubation periods respectively,for possible antifilarial effect by comparing with control.Results:In motility assay,complete inhibition of motility was observed and in MTT reduction assay which gave>50%reduction for concentrations 0.20,0.50and 1.00 mg/mL at 10,6 and 2 h incubation periods respectively in a dose dependent manner(P<0.05).An antifilarial effect imparted by plant extract was found to be a function of their relative concentrations.Inhibitory concentration(IC)for the plant extract was found to be 0.16mg/mL.Conclusions:The present study recorded significant antifilarial effect of Vitex negundo plant extract and contributed toward the development of database for novel drug candidates for lymphatic fllariasis.