Clinical evaluation of the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Hypericum perforatum on the healing of oral lesions of Foot and mouth disease in cattle

Abstract

Formation of excessive blisters and sores on the mouth of affected cattle with Foot-and-Mouth disease and the insufficiency of existing therapeutic methods, leads to extensive damages to the affected herds. The extract of Hypericum perforatum and its active ingredient, Hypericin, have inhibitory effects on the adsorption ability of Foot-and-Mouth virus to host cells in vitro. The medicinal plant also has an effective role in healing various kinds of wounds. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of H. perforatum extract on the healing of FMD oral lesions in affected cattle. In this study, 72 affected cattle (36 heads in 3 treatment groups of 12 and 36 heads in 3 control groups of 12) from 3 conflict centers in West-Azarbaijan province were selected. Determination of serotype by complement fixation method indicated that the studied animals were infected with serotype O of FMD. Dry aerial parts of H. perforatum were extracted with maceration method and 0.25, 0.5 and 5% concentrations of hydroalcoholic extract were prepared. In control groups, normal saline solution and in treatment groups, the extract with the mentioned concentrations was used as an oral spray (twice a day for 4 days). Cattle treated with 5% extract had a significant improvement in oral lesions and lesion repair during the treatment period was significantly different from the control groups (p<0.05). The results showed that spraying 5% concentration of H. perforatum extract had significant healing effects on oral lesions caused by FMD.

Keywords

• cattle
• foot and mouth disease
• hypericum perforatum
• mouth lesions
• treatment