AMELIORATIVE EFFECT OF CALOTROPIS PROCERA AND/OR PRAZIQUANTEL ON SCHISTOSOMA MANSONI INFECTED MICE

Abstract

Seventy albino mice were infected with~ 80 S. mansoni cercariae and were classified into: GI: infected non-treated group, GII: treated with C. procera alcoholic extract after infection (thera-peutic), GIII: treated with C. procera aqueous extract after infection (therapeutic), GIV: treated with C. procera alcoholic extract before infection (prophylactic alcoholic), GV: treated with C. procera aqueous extract before infection (prophylactic aqueous), GVI: treated with praziquantel, treated group with praziquantel combined with aqueous extract of C. procera and G.VII: infect-ed and treated with half dose of Praziquantel combined with aqueous plant extract. Seven weeks post infection, all mice were autopsied, and livers and ilea were parasitological examined (Tissue egg load) and histological assessments (Number & size of hepatic granulomas). Schistosomes recovered from all groups were processed to calculate total worm burdens. The results showed that mice treated with C. procera alcoholic and aqueous extracts showed more significant reduction in total worm burden (43.7% & 46.4%), total egg tissue load (60% & 50.7%) and number of hepatic granuloma (45.9% & 55.5%) than mice in prophylactic aqueous or alcoholic groups (38.3% & 36%, 27.2% & 44%, 25.6% & 39%, respectively). Female worms recovered from mice of aqueous or alcoholic treated groups showed less fecundity than those re-covered from mice of prophylactic groups (1475±181 & 2821±200, corresponding to 3674±1447 & 3023±709, respectively). Mice treated with praziquantel or treated with praziquantel com-bined with C. procera aqueous extract showed the highest reduction in total tissue egg load (86.4% & 97.4%, respectively). Mice treated with praziquantel combined with C. procera aque-ous extract showed higher reduction in total egg tissue (97.4%), number and size of hepatic granuloma (72.3% & 31.4%) than those treated with praziquantel (86.4%, 55.5% &10.8%, re-spectively).