title: Management of giardiasis by a herbal drug 'Pippali Rasayana': a clinical study.
abstract: Pippali Rasayana (PR), an Indian ayurvedic drug prepared from Palash (Butea monosperma (Lamk) Kuntze; Leguminaceae) and Pippali (Piper longum L.; Piperaceae), was administered at a dose of 1 g p.o. three times daily for a period of 15 days to patients (25 treated, 25 placebo controls) suffering from giardiasis with clinical signs and symptoms, and stools positive for trophozoites/cysts of Giardia lamblia. After 15 days of drug treatment there was a complete disappearance of G. lamblia (trophozoites/cysts) from the stools of 23 out of 25 patients. General signs and symptoms of ill health and abdominal discomfort, presence of mucus, pus cells and RBCs were significantly reduced. There was a marked improvement in the clinical and haematological profile of the patients. Spontaneous recovery in 20% cases was recorded in placebo controls.
authors.affiliation: Central Drug Research Institute, Division of Microbiology, Lucknow, India.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Tripathi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sahai
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Saxena
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Puri
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Misra
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Dubey
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Saxena
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008515:Medicine, Ayurvedic; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts