Abstract Andrographis paniculata is an annual herb distributed in tropical countries and it is widely used in traditional medicines. The present study was aimed to investigate the presence of phytochemical constituents, anthelmintic and insecticidal properties of leaf extracts of A. paniculata. The highest percentage of extractive of 24.6% was observed for ethyl acetate extract and lowest, 10.8% for hexane extract. The phytochemical constituents such as carbohydrates, alkaloids, coumarin glycoside, flavonoids, phytosterols, fats and oils and terpenoids were present in the different solvent extracts. The aqueous and methanol extract showed anthelmintic activity. Anthelmintic properties were tested in Indian earth worm, Pheretima posthuma. The methanol extract at 80 mg/ml concentration only took 3 minutes for paralysis and 5 minutes for death, the standard albendazole took 16 minutes for paralysis and 48 minutes for death. The aqueous extract took 73 minutes for paralysis and 79 minutes for death. Insecticidal activity of aqueous extract at 200 mg/ml concentration showed 40% mortality on the 4th day and 75% mortality was observed on 7th day. The aqueous and methanol extract showed the presence of anthelmintic activities and the aqueous extract showed considerable insecticidal property.
Keywords Andrographis paniculata, anthelmintic, extract, insecticidal, phytochemical.