Jaber Dvoodi - Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Abhar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Abhar, Iran
Saeid Abbasi Maleki - Department of Pharmacology, Urmia Branch, Islamic Azad University, Urmia, Iran

Background and aims: Giardiasis is known as intestinal infection and created by the flagellate protozoan Giardia lamblia. Some studies showed that phenolic components, present in plant extracts and essential oils, have anti-Giardia activity. The current study was performed to compare anti-Giardia activity of Satureja hortensis (SH) alcoholic extract and metronidazole in vitro.Methods: In this Laboratory-experimental study, it was separated cysts from the feces by Bingham procedure with minor modification. The numbers of cysts were calculated with Hemusytumetr and the purified cysts of Giardia lamblia (۵۰۰ µl) were exposed with ۵۰۰ µl of extract at concentrations of ۱۰, ۱۰۰ and ۲۰۰ mg/ml and ۱۲۵ mg/kg of metronidazole for ۳۰, ۶۰ and ۱۲۰ min. The numbers of dead and live cysts was enumerated with a microscope.Results: Findings in the currnt studyshowed an increase in anti-Giardia activity of extract at high concentrations with increasing time. SH, at ۱۰۰ mg/ml killed ۵۳% in ۳۰ min, ۶۸% in ۶۰ min and ۷۸% in ۱۲۰ min. Also, the extract killed by ۶۲% in ۳۰ min, about ۸۸% in ۶۰ minutes and ۹۲% in ۱۲۰ minutes. The drug had similar effects in ۶۰ and ۱۲۰ minutes, but it killed ۸۳% in ۳۰ minutes.Conclusion: SH alcoholic extract showed anti-Giardia activity at high rates and more time. Thus, SH extract at ۲۰۰ mg may be suitable alternative for Metronidazole, without side effects. However, anti-Giardia activity of SH needs to more attentions, especially clinical investigations.

Cyst, Satureja hortensis, Giardia lamblia, Metronidazole