@Article{, title={The Effect of Phoenix Dactyliferia Extract on Giardiasis in Laboratory Mice: Case Control Study}, author={Mehdi A Al-Ruhalaty}, journal={Karbala Journal of Medicine مجلة كربلاء الطبية}, volume={10}, number={2}, pages={2792-2799}, year={2017}, abstract={back ground: Giardiasis is a common parasitic infection in the tropical and subtropical areas. It is a common cause of gastroenteritis in humans and other domestic animals. This parasite cause great morbidity and ill health, like mal absorption, irritable bowel and loss of work days. It is usually treated by drug called metronidazole which has bad neurological and gastro intestinal side effects. Recently many plant extract are tried in treatment of some intestinal parasite to avoid the risk of chemical compound and one of these extract is the phoenix dactyliferia.Objectives: To study the effect of Phoenix dactyliferia on intestinal giardisis in mice and compare its effect with metronidazole. This extract of date palm is a natural herbal medicine with supposed negligible side effect.Material and methods: This is a case-control study done in cage of al- Al- Habboby laboratory in corporation with the college of pharmacy, Karbala University. The study was done in the period from 1/11/2013 to 20/11/2013. Sufficient amount of the extract phoenix dactyliferia had been prepared for treatment trial. 75 mice rendered infected with giardisis by giving 2 ml of the dilute stool from infected animals. Then the animals are classified into 5 groups, each group composed of 15 mice. The first three groups were given, 1000mg/ kg, 2000 mg/ kg, and 3000mg/kg respectively. The fourth group was given metronidazole, 200mg/kg and lastly the fifth group was given distil water as a control group. The mice were sacrificed according to the protocols of animal rights and all biopsies sent to histological lab of our college.Results: the group of mice given 3000mg/kg of the extract, showed negative stool examination for giardiasis in the 4th day which is similar to the result of metronidazole. It was also statically significant.Conclusion and recommendation: Phoenix dactyliferia has similar efficacy to metronidazole in laboratory animal. This natural treatment may be beneficial in treatment of human giardiasis.

} }