THE EFFECT OF GIGER ON SCHISTOSOMA MANSONI INFECTED MICE

Document Type : Research and Reference

Authors

1 Zoology Deparetment, Faculty of Science, Helwan University

2 Zoology Deparetment, Faculty of Science, Tanta University

3 Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University

Abstract

The present study was performed to evaluate the antischistosomal activity of the medicinal plant ginger Zingiber officinale. Mice in groups of five animals were individually infected with 100 Schistosoma mansoni cercariae. Four weeks post infection; mice were orally treated with 1200mg/kg of ginger for ten consecutive days. After the last dose, all animals were sacrificed to evaluate the efficacy of ginger in treatment of the infection. The results obtained showed moderate reduction of 16.5% in the worm burden compared with control infected animals. The liver egg count showed a marked reduction of 53.8%. Ginger treatment was slightly reflected on the liver function at such rate of infection, where an improvement in serum arginase activity was recorded while no appreciable improvement in hepatic ALT and AST activities, albumin and creatinine contents. In conclusion, Z. officinale displayed some degree of anti-schistosomal activity through reducing of the S.mansoni eggs output and the liver granuloma size.

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