Comparison of therapeutic effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Asafoetida with metronidazole in mice infected with Giardia lamblia

Giardia lamblia is the protozoan agent of giardiasis and is one of the most common causes of diarrhea worldwide, especially in Iran. Nowadays, drugs such as metronidazole, furazolidone, tinidazole, and quinacrine are used to treat giardiasis. These drugs have different side effects, so research to find a drug with few side effects seems necessary. Asafoetida, an oleo gum resin obtained from an Iranian endemic herb, Ferula Assa-foetida has many healing properties, especially in the treatment of parasitic diseases. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Asafoetida hydroalcoholic extract on the G. lamblia in vivo in mice. In this experimental study, 25 mice were divided into 5 groups of 5 including negative control, drug control with metronidazole, and 3 experimental groups treated with Asafoetida extract at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/mL. Then, the effect of Asafoetida hydroalcoholic extract up to the tenth day was evaluated. In this study, the weight of mice in the groups treated with hydroalcoholic extract of Asafoetida was lower than the control group that did not take any drugs. The effect of plant extract against G. lamblia showed that the reduction in the number of cysts in the groups of 100, 200, and 400 mg/mL was equal to 71.8%, 80.9%, and 93%, respectively (p<0.05). The results of this study showed that Asafoetida has very good antigiardial effects on in vivo conditions and can be considered as one of the treatment options for the treatment of giardiasis.