Effect of the Anti-Inflammatory Drugs Hostacortin (Steroidal) or Vioxx (Non-Steroidal) on the Liver of Mice Infected with Schistosoma Mansoni

Abstract

Background: Theschistosomeparasite induced granulomatous inflammation in the host following oviposition in the liver.Aim:The present study aimed 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. Materials and methods: The anti-inflammatory activity of the two drugs was evaluated at dose levels of 10, 50,100 and 200 mg/kg body weight. Each drug was orally administered to mice infected with 80 S.mansoni cercariae / mouse for 10 consecutive days after 6-weeks of infection. Some biochemical parameters including the hepatic function as enzymatic activity of aminotransaminases; alanine aminotransferase (ALAT), aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in liver as well as serum albumin and liver total protein were determined. In addition, some parasitological parameters as worm burden, liver egg count hepatic granuloma size and relative liver weight were performed to evaluate the possible anti-inflammatory effect of the two anti-inflammatory drugs in ameliorating the severity of the schistosomiasis disease. Results: The results showed that Hosstacortin treatment had no marked effect on the parasite burden and liver egg count. However, it caused a pronounced improvement with a high tendency for normalization in transaminases (ALAT and ASAT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities in liver tissue homogenate. In addition, serum albumin and liver total protein was observed to attain, to some extent, their normal levels by increasing dose regimens of Hostacortin. Also, a significant reduction in granuloma size by 22.2% and 31.6% was detected for doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg Hostacortin, respectively. On the other hand, Vioxx did not affect the parasite burden and liver egg count while it caused high reduction in the enzymatic activities of ASAT, ALAT and ALP in liver tissue homogenate. Also, a moderate increase in serum albumin and a significant reduction in liver total protein levels were observed in mice treated with Vioxx. In contrast to Hostacortin, Vioxx treatment induced a significant increase in the granuloma size by 29.3% at a dose level of 200 mg/kg. Conclusion: The treatment with Hostacortin was found to ameliorate to some extent the severity of the disease, but Vioxx treatment caused additional hepatotoxicity in the S. mansoni infected mice.