title: Efficacy of myrrh in the treatment of human Schistosomiasis mansoni.
abstract: Myrrh (Mirazid) has been produced and marketed as an antischistosomal drug since 2001. The current study was designed to assess the efficacy of a commercially available product of myrrh. One hundred four individuals, infected with Schistosoma mansoni, were randomized in two groups, one for myrrh and the second for praziquantel. Treatment-whether myrrh or praziquantel-was given twice with a 3-week interval. The cure rate with myrrh was very low, 15.6% after the first treatment, and 8.9% after the second treatment. Egg reduction among uncured persons was also very low, being 17.2% after the first treatment, and 28% after the second treatment. Praziquantel cure rate was 73.7% and 76.3%, and individuals still passing S. mansoni ova after praziquantel treatment showed a substantial reduction in the geometric mean egg counts (84% and 88.2% after the first and second treatments, respectively). When 34 individuals-uncured after two myrrh treatments-were offered praziquantel in the standard dose, 32 of them stopped passing S. mansoni eggs when tested 4 weeks post-treatment. The results of the current study raise serious doubts about the antischistosomal properties of Mirazid.
authors.affiliation: High Institute of Public Health, Department of Tropical Health, Alexandria University, Egypt. barakat@dataxprs.com.eg
authors.forename: Rashida
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Barakat
authors.forename: Hala
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Elmorshedy
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fenwick
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000187:drug effects; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D012556:Schistosomicides / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013729:Terpenes / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D012556:Schistosomicides; D013729:Terpenes; D011223:Praziquantel; C014119:myrrh oil