Antischistosomal and liver protective effects of <i style="">Curcuma longa</i> extract in<i style=""> Schistosoma mansoni</i> infected mice

Abstract

With a view to clarify the induction of the “Crabtree consequence” in liver cells of <i style="">S. mansoni</i> infected mice, the curative effect of oil extract of <i style="">C. longa</i> was tested and compared to praziquantel (PZQ) the effective drug against all schistosome species occurring in man. Protein, glucose, glucose-6-phopsphatase, AMP-deaminase, adensoine deaminase, urea concentration, pyravate kinase (PK), phosphoenol pyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and PK/PEPCK ratio were estimated. In addition, worm burden and ova count in mice infected with <i style="">S.mansoni</i> were elucidated. The result showed that <i style="">C. longa</i> normalized the concentration of protein, glucose, AMP-deaminase and adenosine deaminase, which were changed by infection<i style="">.</i> Moreover, it lowered pyruvate kinase level, while PZQ-treatment induced more elevation of this enzyme. PZQ was more effective in lowering worm burden while <i style="">C. longa </i>extract was more potent in reducing egg count.