title: The presence of antiamoebic constituents in psyllium husk.
abstract: The crude extract of psyllium husk (ispaghula) and its active constituent (petroleum fraction) caused varying degrees of growth inhibition in three different species of Entamoeba, i.e. Entamoeba histolytica, E. invadens and E. dispar. The inhibitory effect of the crude extract was in the dose range of 1-10 mg/mL, whereas a similar inhibitory effect was obtained with the petroleum fraction at a much lower dose (0.1-1.0 mg/mL), indicating that the active chemical(s) is/are concentrated in the petroleum fraction. These data support the traditional use of psyllium husk in amoebic dysentery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, The Aga Khan University Medical College, Karachi 74800, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Viqar
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zaman
authors.forename: Syed Munazza
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Manzoor
authors.forename: Mehreen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zaki
authors.forename: Nauman
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aziz
authors.forename: Anwar-ul-Hassan
authors.initials: AU
authors.lastname: Gilani
mesh_terms: D000563:Amebicides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004747:Entamoeba / Q000187:drug effects*; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica / Q000187:drug effects*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011620:Psyllium; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000563:Amebicides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011620:Psyllium