Therapeutic Efficacy of Ginger (Zingiber officinale), Ginseng (Panax ginseng) and Sage (Salvia officinalis) Against Cryptosporidium parvum in Experimentally Infected Mice

Abstract

Cryptosporidium parvum (C. parvum) is a worldwide zoonotic protozoan parasite infects most mammalian hosts causing a major health problem. The present study investigated the efficacy of ginger (Zingiber officinale), ginseng (Panax ginseng) and sage (Salvia officinalis) methanolic extracts on the progression of cryptosporidiosis in the experimental mice.Forty five mice experimentally infected with C. parvum were treated with medicinal plants extracts (ginger, ginseng and sage) as compared to the reference drug, Nitazoxanide (NTZ). Mice fecal smears were examined daily for 4 weeks post infection (PI). The results interpreted by oocysts count and histological examination of mice intestinal mucosa.The obtained results recorded that there was a statistically significant reduction in oocyst shedding in high dose ginger, ginseng and NTZ treated groups till no oocysts were found at days 21 and 23 PI, respectively. The infected non-treated, NTZ and low dose of both, ginseng and sage treated mice groups returned to excrete oocysts at low levels at day 27 PI while the other animal groups’ feces were still negative for C. parvum oocysts. The histopathological examination showed that NTZ, high dose ginger and ginseng treated mice had more protective and curative effect on infected mice intestinal epithelium in comparison with other treatments used.In conclusion, these results proved the therapeutic efficacy of ginger, ginseng and sage medicinal plants against the C. parvum in experimentally infected mice, and that theginger extract had an obvious effect on infected mice than other treatments and such results could be adapted in similar infections in susceptible animals and man.