Anthelmintic, anticoccidial and antioxidant activity of Salvadora persica root extracts.

Human infection with parasites is still one of the big problems worldwide. Medicinal plants succeeded to overcome a variety of protozoan and helminthic parasites. In this study, Salvadora persica root extracts (SE) were used to treat helminthosis and coccideosis. Three doses were used (200, 100 and 50 mg/ml) to study the anthelmintic activity of S. persica. Allolobophora caliginosa was used as a model worm. Also, Albendazole was used as a reference drug. In order to study the anticoccideal activity of SE, a group of mice were infected with Eimeria papillata sporulated oocysts. Experimental mice were treated with SE (300 mg/Kg) for 5 days. The extract was able to decrease the number of meronts and gamonts of the parasite in jejunum. Also, it regulates the level of glutathione and malondialdehyde and the activity of catalase as well. We conclude that S. persica possesses a powerful Anthelmintic, anticoccidial and antioxidant activity.