Complementary Effect of Neem and Mirazid on Mice Experimentally Infected with S.mansoni

Aim: There is an increased demand for using plants in therapy "back to nature" instead of using
synthetic drugs, which may have adverse effects that may be more dangerous than the disease itself.
Mirazid (Commiphora molmol, MZ) and Neem (Azadirachta indica) are considered as a new safe and
effective treatment of murine schistosomiasis, which has side degree of prevalence and spreading not only
in Egypt, but worldwide. The current work has studied the complementary effect of Neem and Mirazid on
mice experimentally infected with S. mansoni. Methods: Swiss albino mice were infected with 75 ±10
cercariae (obtained from Schistosome Biological Supply Centre (SBSC), Theodore Bilharz Research
Institute (TBI), Imbaba, Giza; Cairo Egypt) and randomized into groups of 8 for neem extract (400 mg/kg)
treated groups, positive control groups treated with conventional drugs PZQ (200 mg/kg) and MZ (500
mg/kg), as well as infected but untreated or treated but uninfected (negative control) groups. The study was
done at the Animal Facility in the Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University.
Results: Both MZ and A. indica showed significant dose-dependent percentage worm load reduction
(P<0.001). These extracts also significantly reduced tissues (liver and intestine) egg load counts. Infection
with Schistosome increased systemic AST, urea and creatinine but decreased ALT and GGT.The different
treatments used in this work did not significantly differ from positive controls except in case of treatment
with neem extract where it decreased the creatinine level to reach normal values when it was used alone or
complementary to Mirazid. Conclusion: The antischistosomal activity of the two plant extracts (MZ and
neem) was dose dependent being more potent in reducing both the worm burden and tissue egg load. The
antishistosomal effect of neem extract was significantly higher than Mirazid and mix of Mirazid with neem.
These findings validate the potential use of neem extract in the management of schistosomiasis and provide
a basis for exploring medicinal plants as sources for new antischistosomal agents.