Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Hostacortin (Steroidal) or Vioxx (Non-Steroidal) on Mice Infected with Schistosoma Mansoni and Treated with Praziquantel

Abstract

Background: Schistosoma mansoni, a helminthic parasite induces granulomatous inflammation following deposition of the eggs in the liver. The present study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of two anti-inflammatory drugs; Hostacortin (steroidal) and Vioxx (non-steroidal) in ameliorating the damaging effects of S. mansoni infection in mice. The effects of the two anti-inflammatory drugs after treatment of schistosomiasis mansoni with praziquantel (PZQ) in mice were assessed for management of S. mansoni infection. Materials and Methods: The PZQ drug was administered to 6-weeks S. mansoni infected mice at one oral dose of 685 mg/kg body weight. The anti-inflammatory activity of the two drugs was evaluated at dose levels of 10, 50,100 and 200 mg/kg body weight in mice infected with 80 S.mansoni cercariae / mouse and treated for 10 consecutive days after 6-weeks of infection. Some biochemical parameters indicating the hepatic function as enzymatic activity of transaminases; alanine aminotransferase (ALAT), aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in liver as well as serum albumin and liver total protein were performed to evaluate the possible anti-inflammatory effect of any of the two used anti-inflammatory drugs in ameliorating the severity of the disease. In addition, some parasitological parameters as worm burden, liver egg count, hepatic granuloma size and hepato-somatic index were performed to evaluate the possible anti-inflammatory effect of any of the two used anti-inflammatory drugs in ameliorating the severity of the disease. Results: The results indicated that Hostacortin had no marked effect on the parasite burden and liver egg count. However, it caused a percentage decrease by 14.9 in the elevated ALP activity and pronounced increases by 33.2% and 11.3% in ALAT and ASAT activities, respectively, in liver tissue homogenate. Also, a significant reduction in granuloma size by 22.5% and 31.6% for doses 100 and 200 mg/kg, respectively, was recorded. Hostacortin treatment with PZQ improved the liver status as indicated by a significant reduction in number of worms, eggs count and size of the liver granuloma. However, Vioxx did not affect the parasite burden and liver egg count, it caused high reduction in the enzymatic activities of ALAT, ASAT, and ALP in liver tissue homogenate. In contrast with Hostacortin, Vioxx significantly increased the granuloma size by 27.6% at a dose level of 200 mg/kg. Conclusion: the treatment with Hostacortin, after PZQ treatment, ameliorates to some extent the severity of the disease, but Vioxx treatment causes additional hepatotoxicity in the S. mansoni infected mice after treatment with PZQ.