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8157519 
Journal Article 
An investigation into the anti-microbial and anti-fungal properties of earthworm powder obtained from Eisenia fetida 
Ansari, AA; Sitaram, K 
2010 
4 
2 
87-90 
English 
The medicinal uses of earthworm have a history of nearly 4,000 years. According to traditional Chinese medicine, earthworms possess antipyretic, antispasmodic, diuretic, antihypertensive, antiallergic, antiasthmatic, detoxic and spermatocidal effects. Earthworm medicines are prescribed to treat over 80 diseases, e.g., asthma, hypertension, mumps, ulcer, epilepsy, cancer, etc. This research work was carried out during the year 2006-2007 on dried earthworm powder collected from culture ofEisenia fetida in vermicomposting units and focused on the effect of the dried earthworm on microbes determining the anti-microbial and anti-fungal properties of the worms, as well as the chemical composition of worms obtain from vermicomposting units. The study conclusively proved that the earthworm powder has antifungal properties which would be effective in treating fungal infections, such as Candidosis whereas did not indicate the anti-microbial properties. © IDOSI Publications, 2010. 
Antifungal; Antimicrobial; Bacteria; Earthworm