J Egypt Soc Parasitol. 2002 Aug; 32(2): 501-6, 1 p following 506.

Treatment of experimental heterophyiasis with two plant extracts, areca nut and pumpkin seed.

Mahmoud LH, Basiouny SO, Dawoud HA.

Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt.

The effect of water extracts of areca nut and pumpkin seeds in the treatment of puppies experimental infected with heterophyiasis gave promising results. Puppies were infected through feeding on the muscles of Mugil sp. fish containing the encysted metacercariae of H. heterophyes. Decoctions of pumpkin seeds and areca nut were administered orally 2 weeks after the start of infection as indicated by positive stool examinations. The effect was evaluated by stool examination for eggs, and by autopsy for worms in the intestines. A combined extracts of areca nut and pumpkin seeds gave an excellent result than when given either extract alone.