The effect of aqueous and alcoholic extract of the leaves of Ocimum. sanctum was studied on the spontaneous movements of the whole worm (w.w) preparation and nerve muscle (n.m.) complex of Setaria cervi (S. cervi) and on the survival of microfilariae (m.f.) in vitro. Both the extracts caused inhibition of the spontaneous motility of the w.w. and n.m. complex of S. cervi characterized by initial stimulation followed by reversible paralysis, aqueous extract at a higher concentration showed immediate effect and irreversible paralysis. The concentration required to inhibit the movements of n.m. complex was $1/4^{th}$ for aqueous and $1/3^{rd}$ for alcoholic extract compared to that for the w.w., suggesting a cuticular permeability barrier. On the m.f. the lethal concentration (LC 50 and LC 90) were 35 and 50 ng/ml for aqueous whereas, 60 and 85 ng/ml for alcoholic extracts respectively.