The antiascarid activity of Caesalpinia crista Linn. seeds, popularly known as Karanjwa, was evaluated in chickens of the Fumi breed, suffering from artificially induced Ascaridia galli
infection. Eggs per gram (EPG) counts were determined in the droppings of chickens prior and
after treatment with powdered C. crista at doses of 30, 40 and 50 mg/kg of
body weight along with its extracts in water and
methanol in amounts representing 50 mg/kg of crude
powder. The crude
drug at the dose rates of 40 and 50 mg/kg and its
methanol extract induced a significant (P < 0.001) effect on post-treatment days 10 and 15 while the 30 mg/kg dose was efficacious (P < 0.05) on day 15 only. However, the aqueous extract did not show significant results. These results suggest that a 50 mg/kg dose of C. crista seed
powder, its equivalent methanolic extract and
piperazine (200 mg/kg) are equieffective in treating the ascarid
infection of poultry. The crude C. crista
powder appears to be potent and safer than its
methanol extract on the basis of the side effects observed.