Pharmacological study on antitrichomonal action of Zanthoxylum Bungeanum Maxim

Objective To explore the antitrichomonal effect of decoction from Zanthoxylum Bungeanum Maxim. in culture condition ex vivo.Methods Trichomonas was cultured ex vivo under different concentration of drugs. The survival rate of trichomonas was observed under microscope. The comparison was made with antitrichomonal effect of metronidazole.Results The obvious antitrichomonal effect was observed when concentration of Zanthoxylum Bungeanum Maxim.was as low as 3.13%, and the killing rate for trichomonas was as high as 85% after 64 h. The killing rate was 80.5% and 100% when contacted for 4 h and 8 h, respectively when 25% concentration of Zanthoxylum Bungeaum Maxim.was used. There was no significant difference between the effect of Zanthoxylum Bungeanum Maxim and metronidazole ( P 0.05).Conclusion Zanthoxylum Bungeanum Maxim.has strong killing activity on trichomonas ex vivo and deserves to study and exploit further for its broad application.