Fariba Khoshzaban - Shahed University.Faculty of Medicine, department Parasitology and Mycology

Introduction and Objectives: Toxoplasma gondii is one the most important apicomplexan parasite of humans and other warm-blooded animals. We have studied the effect of aqua extract Zataria multiflura on tachyzoite of Toxoplasma gondii in male Balb/C mice. Materials and Methods: A total of 20 Balb/C mice (control& experiment) were included, and 10000 Toxoplasma organisms of the RH strain Toxoplasma gondii were given oral to each mouse. Zataria multiflura extract was administered in 4 groups (control, ZM100, ZM500, NZM100 and NZM500). All of the experimental mice except control group were given extract oral (with or without nanoparticles) with 100or 500 mg/kg/day doses 3houres after infection and they received for 7-day single dose per day. Results: One hundred percent of mice were survived with all of used doses of Zataria multiflura extract with or without nanoparticles at 5 days after infection but one hundred percent of positive control mice were died P=0.015. Comparing of groups, tachyzoites of toxoplasma in the spleen were disappeared in ZM100 (60%) group and in NZM100 (40%) group (P=0.000) Conclusion: The results demonstrate that Zataria multiflura extract are effective on tachyzoites of toxoplasma in mice. Tachyzoites of toxoplasma in the brain of mice were disappeared.Zataria multiflura extracts with or without nanoparticle were found to be effective for treatment of murine toxoplasmosis.

Toxoplasma, Tachyzoites, Zataria multiflura extract