Effect of Artemisia specigera ethanol extract on digestive system parasitic worms in mice.

Introdution: Chemical drugs against parasites are beneficial, but this method has some problems such as drug resistance, residue and unwanted side effects associated. Therefore, study on alternative therapies especially herbal compounds are research priorities. According to antimicrobial and anti-parasitic effects of Artemisia spp. extracts, this work aimed to study the effect of Artemisia specigera (AS) ethanol extract on digestive system parasitic worms in mice and immunosuppressive effect on infection. Methods: The study was performed on 30 NMRI female mice were divided into five groups. Two control groups and three treatment groups that received Artemisia specigera ethanol extract with 0/2mg/ml, 2mg/ml and 20mg/ml concentrations. Administration of herbal extract has been performed at the first day and was continued every 12h for the next 6 days. The fecal pellets from each group were collected every day and EPG was counted by Lynn Clayton egg counting technique. Results: Our results indicated that Artemisia specigera ethanol extract had protective effects against parasitic worms in mice with 2 and 20 mg/ml concentration. So that, in the third treatment group the mean of egg counts that included eggs of Hymenolepis nana, Aspicularis tetrapetra and Syphacia obvelata was severely reduced at the last day of treatment. . In addition, the results showed that immunosuppression was effective on infection increase. Conclusion: The effect of AS extract on parasitic worms’ infection was related to dose and period of use