54IN VITRO SCREENING OF COCCINIA INDICA FRUIT EXTRACTS FOR ANTILICE ACTIVITYPediculus humanus capitis, otherwise called as the human head louse, infestation is a major concern in public health associated problem especially in developing or third world countries. Resistance of pediculocidal drug towards head louse laid the foundation for research in exploring noval antilice agents from medicinal plants. In present study, various extracts of Coccinia indica fruit extract were tested against the head louse Pediculus humanus capitis. A simple method was conducted for determining the potential pediculocidal activity of ethyl acetate ethyl alcohol, petroleum ether and water extracts of C. indica fruits. The finding revealed that petroleum ether extracts possess excellent antilice activity whereas ethyl acetate and ethanolic extracts showed moderate pediculocidal effects. Water extract was devoid of pediculocidal activities. All the results were well comparable with benzoyl benzoate (25%w/v). These results showed the prospect of using C. indica seed extracts a against Pediculus humanus capitis in difficult situations of emergence of resistance to synthetic anti-lice agents.junaid.rbip@rediffmail.comResearch422014Antilice,Pediculocidal,CocciniaJunaid Niazi,Vikas Gupt,Narinderpal KaurAssistant Professor, Bahra Institute of Pharmacy, Patiala (Punjab), India,Assistant Professor, University Institute of Pharmacy, BFUHS, Faridkot (Punjab) India.,Assistant Professor, University of Emerging Sciences and Technology, Baddi (Himachal Pradesh) India.