Preventive effect of Artemisia annua extract on schistosomiasis

Background: Schistosomiasis is an important zoonotic parasitic disease, which remains a major public concern in worldwide, and its control is mainly dependent on a single drug praziquantel. Artemisia annua is a traditional Chinese medicine mainly used to treat malaria. This study aims to research the preventive effect of traditional Chinese medicine Artemisia annua on the schistosomiasis. Our research use the Artemisia annua extract from the traditional Chinese medicine Artemisia annua as the preventive medicine. Preventive intervention was carried out on experimental mice artificially infected with S. japonicum cercariae to evaluate the medicine preventive effect. Method: Artemisia annua extract is prepared from Artemisia annua by three times extraction at low temperature, then identify and measure the content of artemisinin in the Artemisia annua extract by TLC and HPLC. Experiment animals were divided into four groups: Normal control group, Infection control group, Artemisia annua extract prevention group and Artemisinin prevention group; Experimental mice were artificially and quantitatively infected with S. japonicum cercariae (40±1), Artemisia annua extract and artemisinin are used for prophylaxis 7 days after infection with S. japonicum cercariae, the drug is administered once a week at the dose of 300 mg/kg for four times. The prophylactic effect of the drug was detected 42 days after infection. Results: : The extracted Artemisia annua extract contained about 20% artemisinin. Artemisinin and Artemisia annua extract had a very significant worm reduction rate (98.3% and 95.6%) and liver egg reduction rate (100% and 98.4%) on 7 days after infection with cercariae. General observation showed no abnormality, anatomical system observation and pathological sections of organs showed that liver, rectum and spleen were consistent with normal mice, and no pathological changes were found. Also the physiological and biochemical indexes of the host are normal. Above experimental results show that artemisia annua extract and artemisinin can effectively prevent the occurrence and development of schistosomiasis. Conclusion: Artemisia annua extract and artemisinin are excellent drugs, which can effectively prevent schistosomiasis.