SYNERGISTIC EFFECT OF TWO COMBINATIONS OF SENNA PLANT ON THE TEGUMENT OF A RAT TAPEWORM HYMENOLEPIS DIMINUTA

Objective: Traditional systems of medicine have been adopted in different health care systems worldwide. Amongst them, plant and plant parts have been the most potential based. Our present study was conducted on the treatment of tapeworm Hymenolepis diminuta with two combinations of three Senna plant, S. alata (Sal), S. alexandrina (Sax) and S. occidentalis (Soc). Methods: Alcoholic extracts were prepared for individual plant and extracts obtained were mixed in a ratio of 1:1as Sal+Sax, Sal+Soc and Sax+Soc in phosphate buffer saline (PBS) and 1% Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) at pH 7.4 to find out if any synergistic anthelmintic effect occur, since individual plant have already shown vermifugal effect on the parasite in our earlier studies. Results: Dose-dependent efficacy was observed in all concentrations and in all combinations. Scanning electron micrographs (SEM) showed distortion in the scolex region with shrinkage all over the body tegument; infoldings were observed in proglottids compared to control. Time of paralysis was comparatively less than individual treatment. Conclusion: Our observation suggests that a combination of two plants is having a synergistic anthelmintic effect on the tapeworm, which could be exploited further in combination drug therapy. Further studies are required to isolate the phytochemical constituents of each Senna plant.