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. 2008 Sep;46(3):153-6.
doi: 10.3347/kjp.2008.46.3.153.

Inhibitory effects of Iranian Thymus vulgaris extracts on in vitro growth of Entamoeba histolytica

Maryam Behnia  1 , Ali Haghighi, Hossein Komeylizadeh, Seyyed-Javadi Seyyed Tabaei, Alireza Abadi
Affiliations

Inhibitory effects of Iranian Thymus vulgaris extracts on in vitro growth of Entamoeba histolytica

Maryam Behnia et al. Korean J Parasitol. 2008 Sep.

Abstract

One of the most common drugs used against a wide variety of anaerobic protozoan parasites is metronidazole. However, this drug is mutagenic for bacteria and is a potent carcinogen for rodents. Thymus vulgaris is used for cough suppression and relief of dyspepsia. Also it has antibacterial and antifungal properties. The aim of this study was to investigate antiamebic effect of Thymus vulgaris against Entamoeba histolytica in comparison with metronidazole. One hundred gram air-dried T. vulgaris plant was obtained and macerated at 25 degrees C for 14 days using n-hexane and a mixture of ethanol and water. For essential oil isolation T. vulgaris was subjected to hydrodistillation using a clevenger-type apparatus for 3 hr. E. histolytica, HM-1: IMSS strain was used in all experiments. It was found that the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) for T. vulgaris hydroalcoholic, hexanic extracts, and the essential oil after 24 hr was 4 mg/mL, 4 mg/mL, and 0.7 mg/mL, respectively. After 48 hr the MIC for T. vulgaris hydroalcoholic and hexanic extracts was 3 and 3 mg/mL, respectively. Therefore, it can be concluded that the Iranian T. vulgaris is effective against the trophozoites of E. histolytica.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Effects of metronidazole, hydroalcoholic and hexanic extracts, and the essential oil of T. vulgaris on growth inhibition of E. histolytica HM-1: IMSS trophozoites. The percentage of dead trophozoites after their exposure for 24 hr to metronidazole, the extracts, and the essential oil was determined using eosin.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Effects of metronidazole, hydroalcoholic and hexanic extracts, and the essential oil of T. vulgaris on growth inhibition of E. histolytica HM-1: IMSS trophozoites. The percentage of dead trophozoites after their exposure for 48 hr to metronidazole, the extracts, and the essential oil was determined using eosin.
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