Antiamoebic principle from Swertia decussata

Amoebiasis is an ubiquitous disease and fifty million cases of amoebic dysentery and liver abscess are reported each year around the world. It is responsible for 100,000 deaths per year worldwide and is the second leading cause of death due to parasitic disease. Metronidazole [1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-methyl-5-nitroimidazole] are presently the most effective antiamoebic medications . The drug is known to have common side effects. It is mutagenic in bacteria and high doses in rodents can cause carcinoma. As a result of this and also taking into account the possibility of the development of resistant strains of the Entamoeba against metronidazole, a search for new effective amoebicidal agents is required in order to provide a new dimension in the therapy of amoebiasis. During biological and phytochemical screening of the plants extracts, the extract of Swertia decussata plant was found to have antiameobic activity. Therefore systematic phytochemical examination for antiameobic principle of this plant was taken.