Effect of Ferula assafoetida on experimental murine Schistosoma mansoni infection

Ferula assafoetida is a hard, resinous, oily herbaceous gum belonging to plant family Umbelliferae. It is used as a traditional medicine in many parts of the world and its wide use in medicine was listed by many authors. In the current study, the effect of F. assafoetida on Schistosoma mansoni in experimentally infected mice is investigated. F. assafoetida was given orally via intragastric tube in an oil-form and a powder-form in different concentrations. Four test groups of 30 mice each were studied. Gs I & II mice were given F. assafoetida in an oil-form in different concentrations at 4 and 6 weeks post infection (PI) respectively. Mice in Gs III & IV were given re-constituted F. assafoetida powder in different concentrations (conc.) at 4 & 6 weeks PI. respectively like the previous groups. Oil-form F. assafoetida was given at conc. of 50, 25 & 15 mg/ml. Powder-form was given at conc. of 32, 16 & 8 mg/ml. A highly significant statistical difference between the test Gs (I, II, III & IV) was recorded in comparison to the infection control G with p value < 0.0001 and also between powder and oil forms of F. assafoetida (p < 0.0001) as regards the mean worm burden and tissue egg count. The highest reduction in worm burden and egg counts was found with powder form of F. assafoetida (Gs III & IV) when compared to oil form (Gs I & II), as confirmed histopathologically and by ultrastructural profile alteration.