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

ABSTRACT

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