Mirazid: A new schistosomicidal drug

Schistosomiasis is a debilitating, and sometimes deadly, parasitic infection that afflicts hundreds of millions of people in developing countries. Great efforts have been devoted to develop a safe and an effective schistosomicidal agent. Myrrh is an oleo-gum-resin obtained from the stem of Commiphora molmol. An alcohol extract of this plant followed by steam distillation produced resin and volatile oil. We report here the results of efficacy, toxicity and side effects of a special formulation of myrrh, mirazid. Oral adminstration of this combination resulted in a significant reduction in the of worm burden of mice. It also induced separation of male-female coupled worms. Moreover, it shifted female worms from their normal habitat to the liver. Coincident with the shift of the female worms to the liver, a progressive reduction in the number of immature eggs laid in the wall of the small intestine was proved. This effect was accompained by an increase in the percentage of the mature stage from 14.9 +/- 1.7 in control animals to 93 +/- 7.5 and 93.4 +/- 8.2 in animal treated with mirazid formulation at doses 250 and 500 mg/kg, respectively.