The effects of hydroalcoholic extract of leaves and onion of Allium paradoxum on Giardia lamblia in mice

Giardia is an intestinal protozoan parasite in humans and various mammals. Chemical drugs that are prescribed to treat this disease currently have adverse effects and no proven efficacy. So it seems necessary to find a drug with fewer side effects to treat this parasitic disease. Therefore, the aim of present study was investigated the effects of hydroalcoholic extract of leaves and onion of Allium paradoxum on Giardia lamblia in Balb/ c mice. In this experimental study, 2×105 cysts were fed to 50 Balb/ c mice in 10 groups except negative control group. After confirming contamination, they were treated for 3 days with hydroalcoholic extract of leaves and onion of Allium paradoxum (doses of 20, 50, 100 mg/ml) and Metronidazole as a controlling drug. According to the results of this study, Costumes onion extract at a dose of 100 mg/ml is capable of removing G. lamblia cysts. This effect is significant compared to the control group (P<0.05). It also became clear that leaves of Allium paradoxum have no significant effect on G. lamblia parasite, but it may increase the effect of onion of Allium paradoxum. In other words, it has a synergistic effect. Due to good effect of Allium paradoxum in in vivo conditions on the parasite G. lamblia and many side effects of drugs which have been reported, it can be introduced as a natural compound against Giardiasis.