CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND PROPHYLACTIC EFFECTS OF SATURJA KHUZESTANICA ESSENTIAL OIL ON ACUTE TOXOPLASMOSIS IN MICE

Abstract

Background: Toxoplasma gondii is a widespread zoonotic protozoan that infects approximately one third of the global
 human population and all other warm-blooded animals. The present study aims to evaluate the prophylactic effects of
 Satureja khuzestanica essential oil (SKEO) on infected mice with acute toxoplasmosis.
 Materials and Methods: The components of the SKEO were identified by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy
 (GC/MS). To evaluate the prophylactic effects of SKEO, mice were divided into four groups. (i) non-treated group, (ii)
 mice treated with olive oil once a day for two weeks, (iii) mice treated with SKEO at the dose of 0.2ml/kg once a day
 for two weeks, (iv) and mice orally treated with SKEO at the dose of 0.3 ml/kg once a day for two weeks. After 24 h
 (fifteenth day) mice in the groups of two-four were infected intraperitonealy with 10-4 tachyzoite of T. gondii, RH
 strain. The mortality rate in all infected mice and the number of tachyzoites from infected mice were recorded.
 Results: The main components of SKEO were carvacrol (78.8%), thymol (7.5%), and beta-Bisabolene (1.2%).
 Findings of prophylactic effects revealed that mortality rate of infected mice was 8 days after oral administration of
 SKEO at the concentration of 0.2 and 0.3ml/kg (P