Background: Carica papaya seed is commonly used as herbal remedy for intestinal worms. This study investigated the combined effect of Carica papaya seed extracts and albendazole on adult Pheretima posthuma.
Methods: Cold percolation method was used to extract bioactive compounds in dry powdered seeds of Carica papaya using water, ethyl acetate and petroleum ether as solvents. Individual extracts and combinations of the extracts with albendazole were assayed for anthelminthic activity in which the time of paralysis (P) and time of death (D) of the worms were determined.
Results: Aqueous extract gave highest extractive yield of 19.8% followed by the ethyl acetate extract at 17.2%. Moreover, the individual aqueous extract and that combined with albendazole paralyzed the worm within shorter time (41.00 and 42.00 minutes respectively) compared to the conventional drug albendazole alone (48.67 minutes). Conversely, Albedazole killed the worms faster than any other extract in just 1.18 hours. Albendazole combined either with water or ethyl acetate killed the worm at 24th hour. Combined albendazole with petroleum ether extract could not kill the worm even after 24 hours.
Conclusion: From this study, combining the C. papaya seed extracts with albendazole did not shorten paralytic and anthelminthic activity on adult Pheretima posthuma. Carica papaya seeds extracts should rather be used individually and best when extracted in water.
Key words: Antihelminthic, Carica papaya, Bioactive