Shirzad Gholami - Molecular and Cell Biology Research Center & Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
Mohammad Azadbakht - Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
Hajar Ziaei Hezarjaribi - Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
Bahman Rahimi-Esboei - Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran

Background: Giardiasis is a one of the most prevalent intestinal parasitic diseases in human, treatment of this disease through medicinal plants is very important since parasite resistance to chemical drugs exists. Thus, in this study, the in vitro anti-giardial activity of chloroformic extract of Tanacetum parthenium and Artemisia annua on cyst and trophozoite of Giardia lamblia were separately investigated. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study chloroformic extracts of Artemisia annua and Tanacetum parthenium on cyst and trophozoite of G. lamblia in vitro were prepared in ۱, ۱۰, ۵۰ and ۱۰۰ mg∕ml concentrations for ۵, ۱۰, ۳۰, ۶۰ and ۱۸۰ min. Purified cysts were used for encystations and culture in TYI-S-۳۳ medium. Then, ۲ ml of each solution was placed in test tubes, to which ۱۰,۰۰۰ washed cysts and trophozoites were added. The contents of the tubes were gently mixed and incubated. The percentages of dead parasites were determined by counting ۵۰۰ cysts. Non treated parasites were considered a control group in each experiment and the viability of the parasites checked with Eeosin staining and statistical analysis were done. Results: The results showed that chloroformic extracts of A. annua at ۱۰۰ mg/ml concentration affected on Gardia cyst ۸۶% and ۱۰۰% trophozoite after ۱ hour. T. parthenium at ۵۰mg/ml concentration killed cysts (۸۳%) and trophozite (۱۰۰%) after ۱ hour, respectively. T. parthenium chloroformic extract had a better effect on cyst and trophozoite of Giardia at ۵۰ mg/ml after ۱ hour exposure than A. annua extract. Conclusion: According to this study, A. annua and T. parthenium chlorofomic extracts could be considered as a more effective anti-giardial agent. Chloroformic extract of T. parthenium was also shown the anti-giardial activity compared with A. annua and control groups at all exposure times. Therefore, in the future research using these plants are recommended against Giardia in low concentration in the in vivo, also to find fractions of the pharmacological effects of these plants.

Giardia lambelia, Chlorofomic extract, Artemisia annua, Tanacetum parthenium, Cyst, Trophozoite