Abstract
The fruit of agesalpirlia erilia (Karanjwa.), Maio. nzedarach (Bakain) and roots of Sawsurea kappa (gust-e-Shireen) were found to exert a nthelmintic effect in animals. In an effort to fractionate the active principle of these plant drugs, preliminary phytochemical screening has been done. The results showed that fruit of Canci. pirtia crisra contained. 0.02% glycosides and 0.001% saponins but no alkaloids, anthraquinon.es, cardiac glycosides and Ilavonoids. The fruit of M. ozedarach contained 0,1 g]ycosidcc and 0.01% bounded anihraquinones. The alkaluids, cardiac glycosides, flavo-noids and saponins could not be detected in this fruit. However, S. lappa roots Were observed to contain 0.04 alkaloids, 0.01 glycosides and 0,003 a'Ar cardiac glycoside.5, uhile anthraquinones, flavonoids and saponins were nil.
INTRODUCTION
The fruit of Caesalpinia criila (.Leguminosae) Melia azniarach (MeIiacea.e) and the roots of Soresnrrea ioppo (Compositae) locally known as "Karanjwa", "Ilakain" and " Qust-e-Shireen", respectively, have been quite commonly used in "Unani" medicine (Nadkr.s.ni, 1954) for treatment of various diseases of rran and animals,
The medicinal properties ascribed to these plants included anthelmintie, febrifuge, antiphlegroatic, anfiflatulant, etc. In addition, medicinal plants have been used to cure nervous problems, skin diseases, cough, rheumatism, chronic lever, eczerni and dyspaepsia (Chops eta!, 195fit lkram and Hussain 1970.