Screening of the Efficacy of SomeTraditional Herbal Drugs for Treatment of Hymenolepis diminuta Infection in Rats

Abstract

Hymenolepis nana (human infecting tapeworm) and H. diminuta (rodent infecting tapeworm) are the most common cestodes of man. They are prevalent in areas of poor hygiene and sanitation; especially in the warm and arid countries. They cause most of the non-specific bowel disturbances, and severe symptoms due to intestinal autoinfection and cysticercosis. The present study was designed to study the toxicity and curative efficacy of Amaranthus viridis, Cucurbita maxima, Hagenia abyssinica, and Balanites aegyptiaca medicinal plants compared to the curative efficacy of Niclosamide for the treatment of Hymenolepis spp infections in experimental rat. Faecal samples were collected from 250 Albino rats and screened for Hymenolepis diminuta natural infection using direct wet mount stool preparation, Formol-Ether concentration technique and Zinc Sulphate flotation technique it was found Formal-Ether concentration technique was the most sensitive technique in the diagnosis of Hymenolepis spp infections. The direct and indirect life cycles of Hymenolepis diminuta in experimental rats were studied. It was not possible to establish the direct lifecycle. However the Indirect Lifecycle of Hymenolepis diminuta was successfully established in the rat, with a prepatent period of 21 days. There were no signs of toxic effect on the rats due to administration of any of the four tested medicinal plants and there was no significant (p>0.05) difference between the treated and control groups in the body and organ weights, haematological and biochemical parameters. Histopathological examination of the organs did not reveal any abnormalities. Hagenia abyssinica seeds given at a concentration of 25% (w/w) in food or 25% (w/v) in water was very effective in the treatment of Hymenolepis diminuta infection in rats. Egg reduction (100%) was highly significant (p< 0.01) as compared to that of the untreated control group of rats (zero%), its deparasitization was similar to Niclosamide. Cucurbita maxima seeds in food or water were active in treatment of Hymenolepis diminuta infection in rats. Egg reduction% was100% in food and water and Deparasitization% was 80% in food and 40% in water both of them showing a significant (p< 0.05) difference from those of the untreated control group (zero %). Amaranthus viridis leaves given at a concentration of 25% (w/w) in food and 25% (w/v) in water exhibited a very weak efficacy. It did not reduce eggs in either water or food significantly as compared to control (p> 0.05). The deparasitization activity of this plant in food (20%). and water (35%) were not significant. Balanites aegyptiaca seeds (Flesh & kern) given at a concentration of 25% (w/w) in food and 25% (w/v) in water, were not effective in treatment of the infection in rats. Egg counts and deparasitization in food and water, were not significantly (p> 0.05) different from those of the untreated control group. Our conclusion was that Hagenia abyssinica was the most active plant of this group in the treatment of Hymenolepis diminuta infection in rats.