Assessment of Chamomile methanolic extracts on the adult and larval stages of Trichinella spiralis infection in mice.

The present study investigated a natural alternative treatment against T. spiralis using a methonic extract of Matricaria recutita (chamomile). Seven groups of Swiss albino mice (CDI) were divided into: four groups were infected and treated with chamomile extract, one group was infected and treated with albendazole, one group was infected and treated with T. spiralis, and last group was a normal control. Compared to the infected untreated group, all treated groups showed a substantial decrease in the mean number of adult worms and larval stage (p < 0.001). In group III (albendazole), the number of adult worms decreased to 92.1%, whereas in group V (n-hexane), it was 69%. Group III had the highest efficacy (88.3%) in reducing the larval count, followed by group V (75.3%). Group VI (ethyl acetate) had the lowest efficacy (32.2%). TNF-α and IL-10 levels in the serum of mice were sacrificed at 7th and 40th dpi decreased in comparison to the infected untreated group, according to biochemical investigations. The n-hexane extract of chamomile shows significant anthelmintic properties against Trichinella spiralis, positioning it as a promising natural, affordable, and low-risk therapeutic alternative.