Efficacy of low-dose myrrh protocols in the treatment of experimental schistosomiasis mansoni: hepatic improvement without parasitologic cure

Abstract

Rashad Abdul-Ghani1, Naguiba Loutfy2, Manal Sheta3, Azza Hassan21Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sana’a University, Sana’a, Yemen; 2Tropical Health Department, High Institute of Public Health, 3Department of Pathology, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria, EgyptAbstract: There is a new trend of “back to nature” in searching for antischistosomal drugs, particularly after the concerns raised about the possible emergence of schistosome isolates resistant/tolerant to praziquantel as well as for their relative safety and fewer side effects. Many plant derivatives have been investigated for efficacy against the Egyptian strain of Schistosoma mansoni, but much attention has been paid to myrrh extract, which is a purified sap obtained from Commiphora molmol. This extract has been produced and marketed in Egypt as a pharmaceutical preparation, but with a great discrepancy in its antischistosomal activity in both experimental and clinical studies. Most previous experimental studies used myrrh in the dosing protocol of 500 mg/kg/day for five days. In the present study, we investigated the therapeutic efficacy of three low-dose myrrh protocols against experimental schistosomiasis mansoni. All these protocols showed no significant efficacy in reducing parasite burdens and tissue egg loads or in changing oogram patterns. Nevertheless, there was an amelioration of hepatic lesions, with reductions in mean counts of hepatic granulomas as well as marked healing of these granulomas.Keywords: Schistosoma mansoni, schistosomiasis mansoni, myrrh, Commiphora molmol, antischistosomal chemotherapy