Efficacy of Pomegranate (Punica granatum) Peel Extracts on experimentally infected mice with Giardia lamblia

Giardia lamblia is a worldwide protozoan parasite. Numerous medications can treat giardiasis, but with several side effects. Pomegranate (Punica granatum) is a safe herbal medicine. This study was conducted to evaluate the P. granatum peel effect on experimentally infected mice with Giardia lamblia. Mice were divided into four groups of six mice each. All animals from the G2 to G4 were infected. On the 7th day post-infection, G3 and G4 were treated with NTZ and P. granatum extracts, respectively. The intensity of infection was determined by the rates of cyst shedding in stool of infected mice. The level of Nitric oxide (NO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) was estimated. Also, histopathology of the intestine of mice was done. On day 15, rates of cyst shedding reduced significantly after treatment with P. granatum extracts and NTZ compared to the infected, non-treated group (p value < 0.0003). Conversely, there was continuous cyst shedding from infected non-treated mice. This extract was found to have anti-lipid peroxidation, and its inhibitory effect on lipid peroxidation was significant when compared to the NTZ-treated group (P value ≤ 0.0003). Histopathological examination of the intestine revealed Giardia in the infected group without treatment compared to the infected treated groups. P. granatum peel is a powerful antioxidant that can be used as therapy for giardiasis.