Preliminary study of therapeutic efficacy of a new fasciolicidal drug derived from Commiphora molmol (myrrh).

Myrrh (from the stem of the Commiphora molmol tree) is an oleo gum resin that may prove efficacious for the treatment of fascioliasis. We studied 7 patients who were passing Fasciola eggs in their stools and treated them with myrrh. The drug (a formulation consisting of 8 parts of resin and 3.5 parts of volatile oils, all extracted from myrrh) was given in a dose of 12 mg/kg per day for 6 consecutive days in the morning on an empty stomach. Patients were followed for 3 months. The therapy proved to be effective, with pronounced improvement of the general condition and amelioration of all symptoms and signs. A dramatic drop in the egg count was detected at the end of treatment. Eggs were no longer detectable in the feces 3 weeks after treatment and after a follow-up period of 3 months. High eosinophilic counts, elevated liver enzymes, and Fasciola antibody titers returned to nearly normal. No signs of toxicity or adverse effects were observed. We conclude that the formulation of myrrh is safe, well tolerated, and effective for treating fascioliasis.

Role of dietary lipids and butylated hydroxy anisol (BHA) administration on albino rats. Part II. Liver and heart unsaturated fatty acids.

Adult male albino rats were supplemented with edible plant oils, corn maize and cotton seed oils and their semihydrogenated forms (Heliopolis and Sultan cooking fat). In general, the supplementation of tested oils produced increasing effect on the levels of total unsaturated fatty acids (UFA), C18:1, C18:2 and C20:4 UFA of liver and heart of rats. Liver content of UFA showed very highly significant increases in the levels of C18:1 and C18:2 in all groups of rats fed with tested oils accompanied with non significant changes in total UFA and C20:4 levels. Heart content of UFA showed increases in the levels of C18:1 and C18:2 and insignificant changes observed in total UFA and C20:4, except, in rats fed with sultan cooking fat, showed a significant increase in the level of total UFA. The level of increase in C18:1 and C18:2 was very highly significant in case of rats fed corn maize oil and Sultan cooking fat, and significant in case of rats fed cotton seed oil and Heliopolis cooking fat. Also, liver and heart UFA contents were significantly increased after antioxidant (Butylated hydroxy anisol, BHA) administration. Addition of BHA to tested diets abolished or minimized fatty infiltration produced by dietary fatty diet in the liver cells.

Role of dietary lipids and butylated hydroxy anisol (BHA) administration on albino rats. Part I. Serum unsaturated fatty acids.

Adult male albino rats were supplemented with edible plant oils, corn maize and cotton seed oils and their semihydrogenated forms (Heliopolis and Sultan cooking fats) for a period of 3 months. In general, the supplementation of tested oils produced increasing effect on the serum levels of total C18:1, C18:2 and C20:4 unsaturated fatty acids (UFA). The increases were significant in case of feeding corn maize oil and Sultan cooking fat for total and C18:1 and C18:2 UFA. However, the degree of significance was intensified by the feeding of cotton seed oil and Heliopolis cooking fat. Supplementation of Sultan cooking fat showed a significant increase in serum level of C20:4, while the other tested oils and Heliopolis cooking fat produced very highly significant increase. Butylated hydroxy anisol (BHA) produced no effect on the level of UFA when administered with dietary tested edible lipid but its role revealed by maintaining the higher level of UFA due to administration of oils and its semihydrogenated analogous.