Clinical evaluation of the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Hypericum perforatum on the healing of oral lesions of Foot and mouth disease in cattle

Excessive blisters and sores on the mouth of affected cattle with Foot-and-Mouth disease and so usually insufficient existing therapeutic methods, lead to extensive damages to the affected herds. The extract of Hypericum perforatum and its active ingredient, Hypericin, have inhibitory effects on the adsorption ability of Foot-and-Mouth virus to host cells in vitro. The medicinal plant has effective role on healing the kinds of wounds also. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of H. perforatum extract on the healing of FMD oral lesions in affected cattle. In this study, 72 affected cattle (36 heads in 3 treatment groups of 12 and 36 heads in 3 control groups of 12) from 3 conflict centers in West-Azarbaijan were selected. Determination of serotype by complement fixation method indicated that the studied animals were infected with serotype O of FMD. Dry aerial parts of H. perforatum were extracted with maceration method and 0.25, 0.5 and 5% concentrations of hydroalcoholic extract were prepared. In control groups, physiological serum and in treatment groups, the extract with the mentioned concentrations was used as an oral spray (twice a day for 4 days). Cattle treated with 5% extract had a significant improvement in oral lesions and lesion repair during treatment period was significantly different from the control groups (p < 0.05). The results showed that spraying 5% of H. perforatum extract had significant healing effects on oral lesions caused by FMD.