Albendazole and Long-Dan-Cao Co-therapy against Angiostrongylus cantonensisinduced Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 and Eosinophilic Meningitis

Abstract

The anthelmintic agent albendazole can kill the Angiostrongylus cantonensis larvae that infect the brain in patients with eosinophilic meningitis or meningoencephalitis, but the dead larvae are capable of evoking a severe, brain damaging immune response. This prompted us to investigate the effect of using Long-Dan-Cao, one of the most wellknown Chinese herbal medicines. We, therefore, used A. cantonensis to induce proteolytic enzymes and eosinophilic meningitis in BALB/c mice in order to evaluate the effect of Long-Dan-Cao as well as the effect of using it as a co-therapy with albendazole by assay. Assay indicators for the therapeutic effect include: histological changes, matrix metalloproteinase-9, albumin, and eosinophil counts. Our results showed that the albendazole and Long-Dan-Cao co-therapy is effective against A. cantonensis-induced proteolytic enzymes and that Long-Dan-Cao has therapeutic value for parasitic meningitis.