Evaluation of oral therapy on Mansonial Schistosomiasis using single dose of Balanites aegyptiaca fruits and praziquantel

The efficacy of Balanites aegyptiaca fruit mesocarp was compared with praziquantel in mice infected with Sudanese strain of Schistosoma mansoni. Infected mice were given a single dose of 200 mg/kg body weight of B. aegyptiaca fruit mesocarp and 200 mg/kg b.w. of praziquantel after 6 weeks from the onset of the infection. A significant reduction was observed in EPG (egg count per gram of faeces), eggs burden in tissues and recovery of adult worms (P<0.05) for both the plant and the drug-treated animals. (C) 2004 Published by Elsevier B.V.