Evaluating the anti-leech effects of methanolic extracts of Allium sativum L. and Allium cepa L. compared with levamisole

Leeches biting is of newfangled zoonosis parasitic disease that the most dangerous complication with their biting is incidence of anemia. There have not been found a drug for treatment the leech's complications in the pharmacopeia of different nations. Onion and Garlic are of the most widely used plants in the traditional medicine for treatment of anti-parasite plants. This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of methanol extracts of Allium sativum L. and Allium cepa L. on Limnatis nilotica. In this experimental study the anti Limnatis nilotica effects of garlic methanol extract (Allium sativum L.) and onion methanol extract (Allium cepa L.) on leech, were investigated by anti leech assay. The anti leech assay was carried out in a container contain of 600 ml spring water and a leech in that. The time of paralysis and death was recorded for 720 minutes. Each experiment was repeated for 9 times. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA. The results showed that the garlic methanol extract with dose of 300 mg with the mean death time of 80.44±8.61 minutes and levamisole with the average death time of 8.77±2.72 minutes caused the leeches to death (P<0.05). Treatments of onion methanol extract with dose of 300, 600 and 1200 mg and distilled water hadn’t any effect on leeches (P<0.05). Considering the normality of garlic extract and the short time that it causee the leeches to death, it might be used as an edible plant with the anti leech effect