Amoebiasis is is widely distributed in Iraq. In order to search for alternative new anti-amebic drugs, a study was planned to evaluate the efficacy of metronidazole and some medical herbs on the viability of Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites in vitro culture.
E. histolytica was isolated from stool examination of patients attended Pediatric Hospital Kirkuk, using wet mount technique. The active trophozoites were cultured in Lock egg medium.
After isolation of trophozoites tested against various concentrations of metronidazole, and medical herbs including Artemisia herba alba, Punica granatum and Tecurium polium , using viability Pandroff tube, which contain Jones broth medium. Both aqueous and alcoholic extractions of medical herbs were used, at concentrations of 50%, 25%, 12.5% and 6.25%.
Results: Metronidazole had highest inhibitory effect on viability of E. histolytica trophozoites than medical herbs. Medical herbs, Artemisia herba alba, recorded highest inhibitory properties against Entamoeba histolytica, followed by Punicaa granatum and Tecurium polium. The effect of alcoholic extract of all medical herbs was greater than aqueous extracts
Conclusions: The efficacy of metronidazole was greater than medical herbs. The alcoholic extraction of medical herbs had greatest effect on viability of trophozoites than aqueous ones. Medical herbs can be used as an alternative of metronidazole.