Effect of Aqueous Extract of Peganum harmala on Acanthamoeba In Vitro

Methods: In this experimental study, a sample from a patient with amoebic keratitis, was cultured with Escherichia coli bacterium in nonnutrient agar medium (NNA) 1.5%. Then, the aqueous extract of Peganum harmala was prepared. The extract was affected on trophozoites and cysts of Acanthamoeba at three times (24, 48, and 72h) in various concentrations (1.25, 2.5, 5, and 10mg/ml). The percentage of live parasites, was evaluated using homocytometer lamel, MTT assay [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5diphenyltetrazolium bromide], and flow cytometry method. The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA, one sample KolmogorovSmirnov test, and repeated measures test The significance level was considered to be p<0.05.