Comparison of the Antiparasitic Activity of Bauhinia rufescens Leaves Extracts and Metronidazole Against Gairdia lamblia

Giardia is a flagellate protozoan with worldwide distribution that causes significant gastrointestinal diseases in a wide variety of vertebrates including cats and human. Gairdia lamblia is one of the intestinal protozoa that cause public health problems in most developing countries as well as some developed countries. This study was carried out to evaluate Antigiardial activity of Bauhinia rufsescens (Leaves) petroleum ether and methanolic extracts in vitro test were perform using four concentrations: (1000, 500, 250 and 125 ppm). The highest activity against G. lameblia with respect to time was obtained from petroleum ether extract which exhibited 77.12% mortality within 72 h in 1000 ppm concentration, followed by the same extract which exhibited 76.04% mortality within 72 h with concentration of 500 ppm. On the other hand, the lowest antigiardial activity was recorded by B. rufescens petroleum ether extract 82.8% mortality with 125 ppm concentration within 24 hours, with whereas Metronidazol, a pure compound (positive control) showed 83.42% mortality within 72 hours. This result shows that the most potent antigiardial activity was demonstrated in B. rufescens petroleum ether extract at all concentrations (i.e. 74% mortality within 72 hours) and that B. rufescens species, as claimed also by tradition, is a promising species in treating G. lamblia.