IN VIVO EFFICACY OF MYRTUS COMMUNIS AQUEOUS LEAVES EXTRACT AGAINST METACESTODE OF ECHINOCOCCUS GRANULOSUS

Hydatidosis is an endemic disease of human and animals which is difficult to treat. Experimental studies indicated that Myrtus communis leaves had an efficiency against some bacterial and parasitic infections. The study aimed to evaluate the in vivo efficiency of M. communis aqueous leaves extract against hydatidosis. A total of 40 white albino mice were divided into 4 equal groups. Each mouse in the first, second, and third groups were injected intraperitoneally (IP) with 2000 protoscolices, whereas the forth group was left as non-infected control . Four months post infection, mice in the second and third group treated with 6 and 12mg of M. communis aqueous leaves extract respectively in every other day for one week. Mice in the first group were untreated and considered as infected control group. Morphological and histopathological changes in cysts and infected organs were studied. Enzyme activities of adenosine deaminase (ADA) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were recorded in each mouse. Mice from treated groups with either concentration had lower number and diameter of cysts and higher cyst reduction percentage than infected control group. Histological sections of the liver from mice treated with either concentration showed hepatocytosis, aggregation of inflammatory cells, intensive hyalinization which surrounds the hepatocytes and degeneration of some hepatocytes. An elevation of ADA and dropping in ALP activities were recorded in treated mice especially with 12 mg as compared with non-infected control group.