Abstract
BackgroundDeveloping new antibabesial drugs with a low toxic effect to the animal and with no resistance from Babesia parasites is in urgent demand. In this concern, the antimalarial, anticancer and antioxidant effect of thymoquinone (TQ), a phytochemical compound found in the plant Nigella sativa, has been reported. Therefore, in the present study, the antibabesial effect of this compound was evaluated on the growth of piroplasm parasites.ResultsSignificant inhibition (P < 0.05) of the in vitro growth of piroplasm parasites were observed after treatment by TQ with IC50 values of 35.41 ± 3.60, 7.35 ± 0.17, 0.28 ± 0.016, 74.05 ± 4.55 and 67.33 ± 0.94 μM for Babesia bovis, Babesia bigemina, Babesia divergens, Theileria equi and Babesia caballi, respectively. The in vitro inhibitory effect of TQ was significantly enhanced (P < 0.05) when used in combination with either diminazene aceturate on bovine Babesia and equine Babesia and Theileria cultures. In B. microti-infected mice, oral and intraperitoneal administrations of TQ showed significant (P < 0.05) inhibition of parasite growth at a dose of 70 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg, respectively, compared to the control group.ConclusionsThe obtained results indicate that thymoquinone might be a promising medicinal compound for use in the treatment of animal piroplasmosis.
Highlights
Developing new antibabesial drugs with a low toxic effect to the animal and with no resistance from Babesia parasites is in urgent demand
In the present study, the inhibitory effects of TQ were demonstrated against piroplasma parasites in vitro and in vivo
The results revealed that TQ exhibited the highest activity against the in vitro growth of B. divergens and B. bigemina
Summary
Developing new antibabesial drugs with a low toxic effect to the animal and with no resistance from Babesia parasites is in urgent demand. In this concern, the antimalarial, anticancer and antioxidant effect of thymoquinone (TQ), a phytochemical compound found in the plant Nigella sativa, has been reported. In the present study, the antibabesial effect of this compound was evaluated on the growth of piroplasm parasites. Previous studies have proven the anticancer [14] and antioxidant [15] effects of TQ This phytochemical compound can ameliorate the toxic effects of some conventional medicine such as cisplatin [16] and doxorubicin [17] on the kidney and heart, respectively. In the present study, the potential of TQ against piroplasm parasites was evaluated
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