Evaluation of anthelminthic and antiprotozoal activity of myrrh ( Commiphora myrrha ) methanolic extract.

To treat and control parasitic infections, traditional medical remedies using plant products are utilized as antiparasitic agents rather than standard synthetic chemicals due to drug resistance. Myrrh, a resinous exudate of Commiphora myrrha (Burseraceae), is a powerful antioxidant with a variety of medicinal uses. This study aimed to investigate the effect of the myrrh methanolic extract (MyE) of three concentrations (100, 50, and 25 mg/ml) on the sporulation of oocysts and as an anthelminthic effector via in vitro study. Characterization of the plant was done by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The earthworm, Eisenia fetida , is used as a model worm to evaluate the anthelminthic activity of MyE. Eimeria labbeana -like oocysts are used as a model protozoan parasite in anticoccidial assays. The sporulation and inhibition (%) of E. labbeana -like were assessed by MyE compared to other chemical substances. FT-IR revealed the presence of twelve active compounds. Our results showed that paralysis and death of earthworms at MyE (100 mg/ml) were 7.88 ± 0.37 and 9.24 ± 0.60 min, respectively, which is more potency when compared to mebendazole (reference drug). In all treated worms, microscopic examinations revealed obvious surface architecture abnormality. This study shows that MyE affects oocysts sporulation in a dose-dependent manner. At 24 and 36 hr, a high concentration of MyE (100 mg/ml) inhibits sporulation by 90.95 and 87.17 %. At 36 hr, other concentrations of MyE (50 and 25 mg/ml), as well as amprolium, DettolTM , and phenol inhibits oocyst sporulation by 40.17 %, 29.34 %, 45.09 %, 85.11 %, and 61.58 %, respectively. According to our research, the MyE extract had powerful anthelmintic and anticoccidial properties.