Field trial of Saussurea lappa roots against nematodes and Nigella sativa seeds against cestodes in children
Akhtar, M.S.; Riffat, S.
Jpma. Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association 41(8): 185-187
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0030-9982 PMID: 1942479 Document Number: 386972
The anti-nematodal efficacy of S. lappa roots and the anti-cestodal effect of N. sativa seeds were studied in naturally infected children (aged under 12 years) in Pakistan. 36 children had mixed nematode infections, frequently involving Ascaris lumbricoides and a further 36 children were infected with cestodes, of which Taenia saginata and Hymenolepis nana were the most prevalent. The children were divided into groups of 6 with one group from each set of children kept as untreated controls. The remaining nematode-infected children were treated with pyrantel pamoate at 10 mg/kg bodyweight or S. lappa powder at 20, 30 or 40 mg/kg bwt. Cestode infected children were treated with 50 mg/kg bwt of niclosamide or N. sativa powdered seeds at 20, 30 or 40 mg/kg bwt. Efficacies were judged on the basis of percentage reductions in the faecal egg (epg) counts. The 40 mg/kg single dose of S. lappa and the equivalent amount of its methanolic extract produced, after 7 and 15 days, percentage epg reductions similar to 10 mg/kg of pyrantel pamoate. Similarly, single oral administration of 40 mg/kg of N. sativa, and the equivalent amount of its ethanolic extract produced epg reductions not significantly different from 50 mg/kg niclosamide. It is considered that these indigenous medicinal plants contain active ingredients effective against nematodes and cestodes. The crude drugs did not produce any adverse side effects in the doses tested. "Antinematodal efficacy of Saussurea lappa roots (Qust-e-Shereen) and anticestodal effect of Nigella sativa seeds (Kalonji) was studied in children infected naturally with the respective worms. The activities were judged on the basis of percentage reductions in the faecal eggs per gram (EPG) counts. The 50 mg/kg single dose of S. lappa and equivalent amount of its methanolic extract produced on days 7 and 15 percentage EPG reduction similar to 10 mg/kg of pyrantel pamoate. Similarly, single oral administration of 40 mg/kg of N. sativa, equivalent amount of its ethanolic extract and 50 mg/kg of niclosamide reduced the percentage of EPG counts not significantly different from each other on the days 7 and 15. Therefore, it is conceivable that these indigenous medicinal plants contain active principles effective against nematodes and cestodes. The crude drugs did not produce any adverse side effects in the doses tested."The study involved 36 children (aged <12 years) with mixed nematode infections, mainly due to Ascaris lumbricoides, and a further 36 children (in the same age range) with mixed cestode infections, mainly due to Taenia saginata and Hymenolepis nana.Carolyn A. Brown.