The Anthelminthic Effect Crude Aqeous Ethanolic Extracts of Ocimum Gratissimum and Zingiber officinale on Experimental Schistosoma mansoni Infections in Mice

Abstract

The anti-schistosomal effect of crude aqueous extract of Odmum gratissimum and the ethanolic extract of Zingiber offldnale (Ginger) on experimental S. mansoni infections 111 120 mice were evaluated. Similarly, the effect of a rnixture of these two extracts in equal proportions was also analyzed. Various oral concentrations of the extracts administered for 10 days (100 mq/rnl, 75 mq/rnl, 50 rng/ml and 25 mg/ml) were carried out and mice saaificed 14 days after treatment for the mature mouse infections and 41 and 27 days after treatment for the 2 week old and -1week old infections. A concentration of 100 rng/ml for 10 days of O. gratissimum CAUSed80% reduction and 50 rnq/rnl of the ethanotic extract of Z offldnale resulted in a 60% reduction of worm burden when mice were treated at 8 weeks of infection. The combination of the two extracts was Ineffective (20% reduction of worms).The female worms were more susceptible to both extracts than the male worms. Only O. gratissimum (100 mg/ml) caused a 25% reduction of worm burden on the young adult at 4 weeks infections. Interestingly, the combination of the two extracts caused a 13% reduction in worm burden on the 2 week old infections, Effect of the extracts on liver weight and the average egg load per liver in O. gratissimum treated mice was significant, although the average liver egg load was increased but the difference was not significant compared with the control mice. Thls report confirms that both O. gratissimllm and Z offidna/e have anti-schistosomal properties, and Odmum may be effective against immature Schistosome infections but also possess anti-inflammatory properties. These results would require further validation