Pharmacological effect of Cassia auriculata against Pediculosis humanus capitis infestations as a public health problem

Infestation with head lice is one of the serious health problems worldwide. The treatment failure in the last 5 years has attracted every researcher worldwide. Hence the current study was designed to evaluate in vitro pediculicidal efficacy of traditional medicinal plant Cassia auriculata flower extract. Various concentrations of flower extract were prepared and head lice were collected from infested individuals. Pediculicidal activity was tested by exposing lice continually in varying concentrations of the flower extracts to assess mortality rates, knockdown time and ovicidal effects. Phytochemical screening was conducted to screen the bioactive molecules responsible for the pediculicidal effects. Phytochemical screening reported the presence of various pharmacologically important bioactive compounds in the C. auriculata flower extract including flavonoids, saponins and tannins. The study attributes the effective pediculicidal activity of C. auriculata flower extracts, which significantly suggest that it holds promise as an effective and alternative remedy for the pediculicides. Further research is recommended to understand the basic mechanism of action and isolation of effective and potential bioactive compounds from C. auriculata flower extracts to develop a safer and eco-friendly formulation against pediculosis to address a widespread public health concern.