Ali Pouryousef - MSc in Parasitology, Faculty Member at Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences,Torbat Heydariyeh Iran

Aims: Giardia lamblia is one the most important of intestinal flagellate protozoan which in terms of medical parasitology and public health is important in our country and many countries. Considering the importance of Treatment of infection in patients, particularly with the use of medicinal plants and the presence of parasite resistance to chemical drugs, this study was performed to evaluate the effects of saffron extract on Giardia lamblia cyst in vitro.Materials & methods: In this experimental study hydroalcholic extracts of saffron in 1, 10, 50 and 100 mg⁄ml concentrations and times 1,2,30,60,180 and 1440 minutes, and cysts of Giardia isolated from stools of patient by sucrose solution 0.85M. Then, hydroalcholic extract after diluting affected on Giardia cysts. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 20.Findings: Results of this study indicated that concentration of 50 and 100 mg⁄ml of hydroalcholic extracted of saffron after 3 and 24 hours has the most killing and cytotoxicity activity on G. lamblia cysts in vitro.Conclusion: According to our results, the concentration of 100mg⁄ml of saffron after 24 hour has the highest cytotoxicity effect relatively on G. lamblia cysts. Therefore, the in vivo study on saffron in animal models is recommended.

Giardia lambelia, Crocus sativus, hydroalcholic extract, invitro