In vivo study of pomegranate (Punica granatum) peel extract efficacy against Giardia lamblia in infected experimental mice

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of pomegranate (Punica granatum) peel extract as an alternative treatment on the white laboratory mice against giardiasis. Methods: Experimental animals were divided into five groups, including Group A: control (infected untreated), Group B: infected and fed with pectin 7 days before infection, Group C: infected and fed with pectin starting from 7th day of infection, Group D: infected and fed with pomegranate peel extract 7 days before infection, and Group E: infected and fed with pomegranate peel extract starting from 7th day of infection. Results: Results from this study revealed that the prevention rate in the experimental groups reached approximately 50% by the 10th day of using pomegranate peel extract. Moreover, stool cyst counts of groups showed a significant reduction in the shedding of cysts approximately 75.6% by day 20 post-infection. ELISA test showed a reduction in Giardia antigen in the stools of the experimental groups which received pomegranate peel extract. The cure rate of these groups was approximately 97.4% by 28th day of infection. Conclusions: Our present findings indicated that the pomegranate peel extract proved to be valuable in prevention and treatment of Giardia lamblia infection. Further studies are required to determine the effective dose of pomegranate peel extract against Giardia lamblia infection.