Effect of Artemesia plant on parasite load and morbidity in murine Schistosomiasis mansoni

The efficacy of Artemesia inculta and A. absinthium, on oogram changes, tissue egg load and hepatic granuloma was evaluated in experimental schistosomiasis mansoni. The ethanol extract of each plant was given in a dose of 800mg/kg b.w. to all treated groups at different time intervals 7 week's, post infection [P.I.] and 24 hrs, 7 and 15 days post infection. Their effect was more obvious when the plant extract was given 24 hrs, 7 and 15 days post infection; where the number of dead ova was 15.95 +/- 0.49 [A. inculta] and 15.80 +/- 0.45 [A. absinthium] compared to 12.03 +/- 0.0 and 14.00 +/- 0.42 when both extracts where given respectively 7 week P.I. Concerning the number of ova/gm liver, the percentage reduction was 38.14% and 43.46% when [A. inculta and A. absinthium] extracts were given 24 hrs, 7 and 15 days post infection compared to 5.25% and 12.78% where both extracts were given respectively 7 weeks P.I. Histopathological effect of A. inculta and A. absinthium, on liver 7 weeks P.I. revealed that granulomas were lobular, cellular with mild fibrous tissue and large in size, while when treatment was 24hrs, 7 and 15 days post infection., smaller granulomas, with more fibrous and normal dilated portal veins, liver architecture was noticed. In conclusion the use of repeated doses of Artemesia plants in the early stages of schistosomiasis infection may be of value in overcoming the recent problem of reinfection, they are less castly and more safe than other antibilharzial drugs, with minimal side effects as revealed by the histopathological studies

Evaluation of molluscicidal and schistosomicidal activity of two species of Egyptiana Plant in schistosomiasis inansoni

The present study showed that the two plants Artemisia absinthium and Artemisia inculta as cold or boiled water suspensions of their dry powder were nontoxic against Biomphalaria Alexandrina snails. On the other hand, the ethanol extracts of A. absinthium and A. inculta were effective as molluscicides against B. Alexandrina, and the LC9O being 250 ppm and 400 ppm respectively, after 24 hours of exposure. It was observed that these LC9O values killed Schistosoma mansoni ova after 15 minutes of exposure. The free living larval stages of S. mansoni [miracidia and cercariae]. were killed after 30 and 45 minutes of exposure to LC90 of A. obsinthium and A. inculta respectively. The use of A. absimthium and A. inculta ethanol extracts for treatment of murine schistosomiasis mansoni was studied using different doses of 500 mg I kg, 700 mg /kg and 800 mg I kg to investigate the effect of either extract against immature stages, each dose was given as single oral dose 24 hours post infection, then 7 days post infection and lastly 15 days post infection. To study the effect of A. absinthium and A. inculta against adult Schistosorna worms, each dose of the ethanol extracts was given 7 weeks post infection as single oral dose. The percentages of reduction in mean worm burden 9 weeks post infection in animals treated with either A. absinthium or A. inculta, 7 weeks post infection with a single oral dose of 800 mg/kg, were 39.5% and 38.7% respectively. Moreover, the percentage of reduction in mean number of worms 9 weeks post infection reached 77.32% and 74.9%, respectively by using the same dose [800 mg/kg] for three successive treatment schedule, 24 hours, 7 days and 15 days post infection. Also, the mean number of eggs excreted in stool was significantly decreased with the use of both plants for the all designated time intervals. It is concluded that treatment with the ethanol extracts of Artemisia plants showed high efficacy when given early and in repeated doses in murine schistosomiasis mansoni

Protective effect of vitamin E from cisplatin induced hepatotoxicity in albino rats

Cisplatin is a potent drug which is commonly used in treatment of many tumors; however, its high toxicity limits its use. This work was undertaken to study the histo-chemical and ultrastructural changes in the liver of adult albino rats after injection of cisplatin alone and in association with vitamin E. In rats administrated cisplatin alone, the histochemical study showed a significant decrease in both Periodic acid Schiff's reaction and succinic dehydrogenase activity accompanied with an elevation of acid phosphatase reaction in hepatocytes all over the hepatic lobules. In respect to these light microscopic observations, concomitant electron microscopic study revealed deficiency of glycogen aggregates, mitochondrial changes including; decrease in the number, deformity in shape, and loss of some aristae, beside an increase in the number of lysosomes. In addition, nuclear chromatin condensation and widening of the perinuclear cisternae were commonly observed. On the other hand, administration of vitamin E prior to cisplatin led to relief of these histochemical and ultrastructural abnormalities probably owing to the protective anti-oxidant nature of vitamin E. It would be concluded that the use of cisplatin drug alone is highly hepatotoxic, so it is better to prescribe Vitamin-E together with cisplatin to limit its toxic effects

effect of maternally derived antibodies on the response of calves to vaccination against Kabete O rinderpest vaccine

A study was undertaken to find out the age at which calves borne to repeatedly vaccinated dame could be vaccinated against rinderpest [RP]. Eight vaccination regimes on eight groups of colostrums fed calves were implemented using a local live attenuated cell culture RP vaccine. The animals of regimes 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 and 8 were primary vaccinated at the age of 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 and 8 month respectively and boosted at the age of 6,7and 9 month in regimes 1 to 5 and at 9 months in regimes 6,7 and 8. Maternally derived antibody [MDA] and vaccine-induced antibody against rinderpest antigen were assessed using competitive ELISA and the detected antibodies are expressed as percent inhibition [PI] values. The sera that had P1 below 42 tested negative. Two days following feeding colostrum calves revealed highest PI [94.5-92.2]. MDA gradually declined to undetectable levels by the age of 4 to 6 months. Early vaccination regimes before the age of 6 months were ineffective ligier antibody levels were detected at the age of 7 months in the animals of regimes I,2,3,4,5 and one month after primary vaccination in regimes 6,7 and 8. Based on the above finding, it is recommended that the colostrum fed calves could be vaccinated against Rinderpest when they are at 6 to 7 months of age