The College of Education for Pure Sciences Discusses a Master’s Thesis on the Evaluation of the Therapeutic Efficacy and Chemical Characterization of Essential Oil Extracts from Some Plants.
The Department of Biology at the College of Education for Pure Sciences at the University of Kerbala discussed a master’s thesis entitled “Evaluation of the Therapeutic Efficacy and Chemical Characterization of Essential Oil Extracts from Some Plants and Their Effect on the Protozoa of the Hydatid Parasite Echinococus Granulosus.”
By student Abrar Mohammed Mahdi Al-Tama
Under the supervision of Asst. Prof. Dr. Yarab Mudhar Jawad.
The study aimed to investigate the effects of using essential oils to enhance the killing effect of the protozoa of the hydatid parasite in laboratory conditions. This may contribute to reducing the use of synthetic pesticides and addressing the problem of parasite resistance by reducing the toxicity of compounds and chemical treatments. Essential oils were selected to evaluate their toxic effects and synergistic action, and to identify the compounds in the volatile oils and their role in the survival of the protozoa of the hydatid parasite.
The study concluded that there were differences in the anti-protozoal efficacy of the volatile oils of the two experimental plants, with one showing greater efficacy than the other. Furthermore, optimal concentrations of the volatile oil were found to achieve greater therapeutic efficacy with fewer side effects. The study also identified the compounds shared by the two plants and their potential role and impact on protozoal viability.
The study recommended conducting clinical trials to determine the extent of the effect of the volatile oils of bergamot and lemongrass on Echinococcus granulosus in the body using laboratory animals. Experiments were also conducted on dogs infected with adult worms to determine the therapeutic effect of the essential oils used in this study. A molecular study was also conducted to determine the genetic sequence and phylogeny of the parasite in Kerbala Governorate.
