Antischistosomal and hepatoprotective activity of Morus alba leaves extract

Schistosomiasis is an important disease in the tropics with huge impact on the socio-economic development of affected regions. the study aimed to investigate the antischistosomal and hepatoprotective activity of morus alba leaves extract. mice were allocated to eight groups. group i served as vehicle control. groups ii,ii and iv were gaveged with 100 μl of 200,400 and 800 mg/kg mulberry leaves extract,respectively for 10 days. groups v,vi,vii and viii were infected with 100±10 schistosoma mansoni cercariae. on day 46 p.i. with s. mansoni,the animals of group vi,vii and viiii received 100 μl mulberry extract by gavage once daily for 10 days at a dose of 200,400 and 800 mg/kg body weight,respectively. all mice were sacrificed at day 55 post-infection. worm recovery and egg counting in the hepatic tissues were determined. s. mansoni was able to induced inflammation and injury of the liver. this was evidenced (i) as increases in granuloma size,(ii) as increased production of nitric oxide and malondialdehyde,and (iii) as lowered glutathione levels. all these infection-induced parameters were significantly altered during mulberry treatment. based on these results,it is concluded that mulberry could ameliorate preexisting liver damage and oxidative stress conditions due to schistosomiasis. copyright 2013 zoological society of pakistan.