Mirazid in treatment of three zoonotic trematodes in Beni-Sweif and Dakhalia Governorates.

A total of 60 patients with schistosomiasis (40), fascialiosis (15) and heterophyiasis (5) were selected Beni-Sweif and Mansoura Districts and subjected to history taking, clinical examination, Kato thick smear, sedimentation and hatching test (for schistosomiasis cases) at the beginning of the study, 2 & 3 months after treatment with Oleo-resin of Myrrh (Mirazid) in a dose of 10 mg/kg/day for 6 consecutive days an hour before breakfast. The results showed a significant improvement in symptoms with minimal negligible or no side effects. The cure rates, 2 & 3 months after treatment were 80.7%% & 11.8%% for schistosomiasis, 93.3% & 6.6% for fascioliasis, and 100% for heterophyiasis. The clinical picture of schistosomiasis before treatments were easy fatigability, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, epigastria pain, abdominal distention, right upper guardant pain, colicky abdominal pain, left upper and/or lower guardant pain, abdominal rumbling, dysentery, diarrhea, rectal bleeding, constipation, and alternating bowel habit. Those of fascioliasis were abdominal distention, dripping of saliva, right upper guardant, colicky abdominal pain, weight loss, easy fatigability, intermittent jaundice, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, epigastria, left upper and/or lower quadrant pain, right layer quadrant pain, loin pain, abdominal rumbling, diarrhea, constipation, and alternating bowel habit. The safety and efficacy of C. molmol extract in treating heterophyiasis (100%), fascioliasis (100%) and schistosomiasis (92.5%) were documented.

Mirazid (Commiphora molmol) in treatment of human heterophyiasis.

A total of 3278 patients attended Mansoura University Hospitals' Clinics with gastro-intestinal troubles suggesting parasitosis were examined by direct smear and by Kato-Katz methods for parasites especially Heterophyes heterophyes. Fifty clinically and parasitologically proved pure heterophyiasis patients were given Mirazid as two capsules for 9 successive days on an empty stomach an hour before breakfast. All the cases were subjected to history taking and clinical examination before treatment and were followed-up for four weeks post-treatment. There was an overt clinical and parasitological improvement. A total of 47 out of 50 (94%) were cured. Another course was given to the three patients who were still positive, but only two of them were cured (66.7%). The overall cure rate was 49/50 (98%) and none had any side effect. The history and treatment of this zoonotic parasite was critically discussed.

Commiphora molmol extracts as plant molluscicide against Lymnaea natalensis.

Two extracts from the herbal plant, Commiphora molmol showed a high molluscicidal effect against Lymnaea natalensis. The oil extract was more potent than the oleo-resin. A concentration of 10 ppm of the oil extract killed 100% of L. natalensis after 5th day, but the oleo-resin extract killed 100% of them at a concentration 20 ppm after 5th day.

Effect of Mirazid (Commiphora molmol) on experimental heterophyidiasis.

Mirazid (MZ), an oleo-resin extract derived from Myrrh was reported in several experimental and clinical trails to be safe and effective against other trematodes like schistosomiasis and fascioliasis. This experimental work aimed at investigating the possible efficacy of MZ against heterophyids (Pygidiopsis genata), using praziquantel as a therapeutic control. Results showed that MZ in emulsion form is a promising drug for the treatment of heterophyidiasis, as proved by significant reduction of worm count, overt surface tegumental changes like deformity and erosion of tegumental spines observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The effective dose regimen was 500 mg/kg/d for 3 successive days, produced 100% reduction in worm load. The proved efficacy of the drug, together with reported low toxicity, relative to praziquantel, favours its use as a natural new alternative therapy for the treatment of human heterophyidiasis.