Evaluation of the therapeutic effect of M. recutita plant extract against experimental giardiasis

Giardia lamblia (G. lamblia) is a common pathogenic protozoan that frequently causes giardiasis, leading to steatorrhea; management of giardiasis is difficult, and the need to find alternative natural products is needed to avoid the adverse effects of chemotherapeutics. Therefore, the present investigation aimed to assess the impacts of M. recutita plant extract in the treatment of experimental giardiasis and evaluate its effect using different parameters of assessment. Mice were classified into: G1 : non-infected, non-managed; G2: infected, non-managed; G3: infected and managed with metronidazole; G4: infected and managed with n-hexane extract of M. recutita at 50 % concentration; G5: infected and treated with n-hexane extract of M. recutita at 100 % concentration; G6: infected and managed with n-butanol extract of M. recutita at 50 % concentration; and G7: infected and managed with n-butanol extract of M. recutita at 100 % concentration. The therapeutic efficacy was evaluated by parasitological (cyst and trophozoite count), histopathological, immunohistochemical (Caspase-3), histochemical (PAS staining), and oxidative stress markers (SOD and MDA) parameters. The highest therapeutic outcome was achieved with G3 and G5, showing significant reduction with a percentage of 13.6±3.51 and 13.8±1.92, respectively, and an apparent amendment of pathological insults, immunohistochemical staining, and immunological markers. Results of the present research proved that the M. recutita plant extract has a promising therapeutic effect against Giardia lamblia. The plant extract from M. recutita is readily available and helps prevent the negative side effects of chemotherapy medications.