Abstrait

Antigiardial Activity of Some Plant Extracts Used in Traditional Medicine in Sudan in Comparison with Metronidazole

Kayondo Najumudin, Jumaa Ayubu, Anas M. Elnazeer

Giardiasis is one of the common parasitic diarrhoea in humans especially in children worldwide. Many drugs are used for its treatment but there is evidence of drug resistance, insufficient efficacy and unpleasant side effects. Natural products are good candidates for discovering more effective anti-giardial compounds. The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro antigiardial activity of ethanolic extracts of Solennostemma argel, Trigonella foenum graecum and Mentha x piperita in comparison with metronidazole. Giardia trophozoites were isolated from feacal samples. The ethanolic extracts of 3 plants with concentration of 5000 ppm were investigated together with metronidazole (positive control) at 0.3125 ppm against G. lamblia trophozoites. The extracts of 3 plants were incubated at 37°C for 24, 48, 72 and 96 h. Mortality of trophozoites was observed by 0.4% Trypan blue and a haemocytometer. Trigonella foenum graecum, Mentha x piperita and Solennostemma argel exhibited 98%, 92% and 65% mortality respectively within 96 h at concentration of 5000 ppm (5 mg/ml). This was compared to metronidazole which gave 100% inhibition at concentration of 0.3125 ppm at the same time. The ethanolic extracts of Trigonella foenum graecum, Solennostemma argel and Mentha x piperita had potent antigiardial activity. This will provide natural therapeutic treatment to giardiasis with minimal side effects and drug resistance. We recommend using these plants against Giardia lamblia in the in vivo and also to find fractions of the pharmacological effects of these plants.