Abstract
<p><em>Toxoplasma gondii </em>is an obligatory intracellular parasite that infects a wide range of warm-blooded animals and humans. Considering the severity of toxoplasmosis, side effects of current treatments, and the contribution of the ethnopharmacological knowledge for the treatment of parasitic infections, the aim of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of methanolic extracts from the fruits and leaves of <em>Sambucus nigra </em>against tachyzoite of <em>T. gondii</em>. For this, fruits and leaves of <em>S. nigra </em>were collected from Mazandaran province, Iran, were dried under the shade, and powdered using a commercial electrical blender. For extractions, methanol was used as solvent. Virulent RH strain of <em>T. gondii</em> was maintained in mice and macrophages containing tachyzoites were aspirated from the peritoneal cavity. Four concentrations (5, 10, 25 and 50mg/mL) of <em>S. nigra </em>extract were incubated with infected macrophages for 30, 60, 120 and 180 minutes and the viability of the tachyzoites were evaluated by trypan blue staining. Results showed that <em>S. nigra </em>fruit extracts at the concentrations of 5 and 10mg/mL killed 100% of <em>T. gondii</em> tachyzoites after 60 and 120 minutes, respectively; and concentrations of 25 and 50mg/mL killed 100% of the tachyzoites after 30 minutes. Additionally, extract of <em>S. nigra</em> leaves, at the concentrations of 5, 10 and 25mg/mLafter 180 minutes, and concentration of 50mg/mLafter 60 minutes, resulted with the highest efficacy. Our results showed that <em>S. nigra</em> has acceptable efficacy <em>in vitro</em> and the parasiticidal effect of fruit extract was significantly better than leaf extract. However, <em>in vivo</em> efficacy of this extract needs further investigation.</p>
Highlights
The recommended drugs for treatment or prophylaxis of toxoplasmosis are Pyrimethamine and Sulfadiazine; the available drugs are not completely effective in killing the parasite (Serranti, Buonsenso, & Valentini, 2011)
The anti-Toxoplasma effect of methanolic extracts from the fruits of S. nigra was extremely significant compared to the negative control group in all exposure times (p
Leaves extract at the concentrations of 5, 10 and 25mg/mL killed more than 90% of the tachyzoites in 180minutes, TABLE 1 The effect of fruits of S. nigra on mortality of T. gondii tachyzoites in vitro
Summary
The recommended drugs for treatment or prophylaxis of toxoplasmosis are Pyrimethamine and Sulfadiazine; the available drugs are not completely effective in killing the parasite (Serranti, Buonsenso, & Valentini, 2011). Herbal remedies and plant extracts have been used as treatments for ailments from headaches to parasite infections (Jones, 1996). Sambucus spp. has been reported to be an insect repellent, antihemorrhoid, anti-protozoa, and anti-bacterial treatment. It is mentioned for treatment of burns and infected wounds, edema, eczema, common cold, inflammation and rheumatism (Ahmadiani, Fereidoni, Semnanian, Kamalinejad, & Saremi, 1998; Yeşilada, Gürbüz, & Shibata, 1999; Rahimi-Esboei, Ebrahimzadeh, Gholami, & Falah-Omrani, 2013). Considering the side effects of anti-Toxoplasma drugs and the severity of toxoplasmosis, in the fetus and the contribution of the ethnopharmacological knowledge for the treatment of parasitic infections, it is necessary to investigate on new anti-Toxoplasma compounds with high activity, low toxicity, and that are cheaper and more effective. The aim of the present study was to survey on the efficacy of methanolic extracts from the fruits and leaves of S. nigra on tachyzoites of T. gondii
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