Abstract

Phoenix dactylifera (Date) is used in traditional medicine for its pharmacological properties. Here, we investigated the effects of Khodary date fruit on the outcome of coccidiosis caused by Eimeria papillata in mice. Coccidiosis was induced by infection of mice with 1.5 × 10³ sporulated oocysts of E. papillata. The aqueous extract of date fruit (4 ml/kg) was used in vivo for its hepatoprotective properties. Anticoccidial and anti-inflammatory activities of date fruit were determined through oocyst output and liver histopathology, respectively. The data showed that mice infected with E. papillata revealed an output of about 8.7 × 10³oocysts per gram faeces on day 4 post -inoculation (p.i.). This output significantly decreased to about 6.7 × 10³ oocysts in date fruit-treated mice. Infection caused a marked liver injury as indicated by histopathological alterations as well as the significant increase in liver glutamic pyruvate transaminase (GPT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Also, infection induced a significant increase in total protein and total lipids. The aqueous extract of P. dactylifera fruit showed a significant (P ≤ 0.05) hepatoprotective potential by improving the aforementioned parameters. Based on these results, it is concluded that date fruit could offer protection against hepatotoxicity as well as ameliorate preexisting liver damage.

Key words: Date fruit, liver, Eimeria papillata, mice.