Hymenolepis nana is the most widely recognized cause for cestodal helminthic infections worldwide.
Infection prevalence rate increases in tropical areas especially among children. Praziquantel
(PZQ) is the drug of choice; nonetheless, several instances of treatment resistance have been
reported. This study evaluated the effect of crude aqueous extract Calotropis procera (CAE) and
crude methanolic extract (CME) leaves, separately, and in combination with half dose of PZQ on
H. nana in infected albino mice, in comparison to full-dose PZQ. Albino mice (180) were divided
into two main groups to evaluate the effect on adult and cysticercoid stages. Each group
comprised 6 sub-groups: infected not-treated, infected treated with PZQ, CAE, CME, PZQ+CAE
and PZQ+CME. Results showed significant reduction of worm burden, total egg output and
cysticercoids in all PZQ treated groups either single or combination. As regards plant extracts,
methanolic extract treated groups showed higher reduction rate of adult worm burden, total egg
count and number of cysticercoids in comparison with aqueous extract group. Adults showed
marked tegumental changes and abnormalities with all treatments, but, more rapid with
praziquantel. Also, both treatments and their combinations caused significant reduction in
histopathological cysticercoid stage count.