Anthelmintic properties of Polygonum glabrum

A pure anthelmintic substance (PGA) has been isolated from the methanol-aqueous extract of the leaf of Polygonum glabrum Willd., a semi-aquatic Sudanese species of the family Polygonaceae. The antiparasitic in-vitro activity of several fractions isolated from the plant, has been examined comparatively with that of PGA. PGA also showed molluscicidal activity against Biomphalaria glabrata and Limnea truncatula Müll. Structural determination of PGA was attempted following data analysis of UV, IR, 13C NMR, 1H NMR and MS spectra and suggests that PGA is a terpenoid.