Abstract
The antifungal efficacy of Ficus sycomorus and Pergularia tomentosa plant extracts on Bufo regularis experimentally infected with Aspergillus niger was studied. After an oral administration of the pathogen for 15 days, the blood, kidney and liver were examined. Treatment with A. niger produced a reduction in red blood count cells and hemoglobin content. Also, both livers and kidneys revealed marked destruction and degenerative changes. These changes included congestion of blood vessels, leukocytic infiltration, and cytoplasmic vacuolization of the hepatocytes. As well as complete destruction of the cellular boundaries of the tubular epithelia, inflammatory leukocytes between the intertubular spaces, destruction and necrosis in renal tubule cells and the swollen glomeruli with wide glomerular spaces were seen. Pretreatment with F. sycomorus and P. tomentosa plant extracts 1 h prior the administration of A. niger for two weeks improved blood parameters and protected against hepatic and renal damage as observed from histological examination and reduced spore numbers in culture media on these organs. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.