Anti-Schistosomal activity of five plant extracts on Swiss white mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni

Abstract

Schistosomiasis in humans is a major public health problem worldwide. Schistosomiasis occurs in 76 tropical countries and it is estimated that 85% of the infections are in Africa. In Kenya, it is estimated that 3 million people are infected. The Conventional drugs are effective in the treatment of the disease but very little progress has been achieved on treatment of Schistosomiasis in Kenya. Any effort towards developing alternative drugs for the disease is worthwhile. Praziquantel is the most effective drug against all adult stages of human Schistosomiasis, being the drug of choice for morbidity control of Schistosomiasis. However it is not a satisfying situation to have one drug used for the treatment. Ideally other drugs should be availed in order to avoid development of drug resistance. The use of plant extracts in treatment of diseases is universal. The results obtained showed that Ocimum americanum and Bridelia micrantha plant extracts had antischistosomal activity as indicated by high worm reduction and reduced gross pathology. Histopathology showed no or few granuloma in the liver tissue. Further work should be done on the efficacious extracts, towards drug development.