Investigation of the anthelmintic effects of Rosmarinus officinalis L. (rosemary) and rosmarinic acid in mice naturally infected with Aspiculuris tetraptera

Abstract. In this study, the anthelmintic effects of Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract and its polyphenolic constituent, rosmarinic acid, were investigated in mice naturally infected with Aspiculuris tetraptera. The feces of 90 Balb/c mice, naturally infected with A. tetraptera, were examined using the fecal flotation method to determine the infection status. Three doses of R. officinalis leaves extract were examined. Infected mice were divided into six groups. The first group received 250 mg/kg, the second group received 500 mg/kg, the third group was given 1000 mg/kg of R. officinalis leaves extract, the fourth group was treated with rosmarinic acid 5 mg/kg, the fifth group with albendazole 10 mg/kg and the sixth group served as the control, receiving physiological saline. The experimental and control groups were orally administered for 7 days. On the 8th day, all animals were euthanized, and the number and weight of parasites obtained from the gastrointestinal tract were counted and measured. Percentages of activity and p-values were calculated as follows: the efficacy values were 89%, 1399 of albendazole; 8%, 17 of rosmarinic acid; 25,44% of a 250 mg/kg rosemary dose; 46,54% of a 500 mg/kg rosemary dose and 7,16% of a 1000 mg/kg rosemary dose what do these numbers reflect. P-values were found to be significant in the second group, which received a 500 mg/kg dose of rosemary leaf extract (p < 0.05), and remained insignificant in the third, fourth, and fifth groups (p> 0.05).