Preliminary study : Effects of Desmodium pulchellum’s root on Opisthorchis viverrini in hamsters

Abstract

This report is the preliminary study on effects of the extract from Desmodium pulchellum’s root on the fluke “Opisthorchis viverrini” in hamsters. After 45 days of infection with metacercariae of this liver fluke, all six groups of 5 hamsters had similar number of eggs in feces (p>0.7). The treatment effects of water extract from this herb (10 g root/1 kg b.w) given for 1,2,3,4 or 5 days on the number of eggs in feces and the number of adult fluke in the liver were compared with those of controls. The results show that the number of eggs in feces from hamsters treated with the herb-extract is significantly decreased from controls (p <0.004). On the other hand, the number of fluke in the liver is similar in all six groups (p >0.1). These results suggest that the extract from this herb may have anthelminthic effect on this fluke, at least , on the egg production.