Abstract
BackgroundCystic echinococcosis (CE), is a parasitic zoonosis caused by Echinococcus granulosus (E. granulosus) larvae in liver and lungs of both humans and animals. Surgical intervention is the mainstay for CE treatment, using scolicidal agents that inactivate live protoscolices. This study evaluated the scolicidal effects of Silybum marianum ethanolic extract and its combination with albendazole in vitro for the first time. Moreover, in a literature review, we investigated the effects of a wide range of Iranian medicinal plants on protoscolices of E. granulosus.MethodsS. marianum ethanolic extract was prepared and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis was used to establish the proportions of its component compounds in the extract. Cytotoxicity was evaluated in mouse macrophage cells (J774A.1 cell line) using MTT method. Next, the scolicidal activity of the extract alone and combined with albendazole was tested as triplicate at various concentrations incubated for 5, 10, 20, 30, and 60 min. Finally, protoscolex viability was determined using 0.1% eosin as a vital stain. PCR–RFLP and DNA sequencing techniques were used to characterize the genotype of E. granulosus.ResultsHPLC analysis showed that S. marianum ethanolic extract contained mostly silydianin (14.41%), isosilybin A (10.50%), and silychristin (10.46%). The greatest scolicidal effects were obtained with the combination of S. marianum with albendazole (79%), S. marianum ethanolic extract alone (77%) and albendazole (69%), at a concentration of 500 μg/ml for 60 min, respectively (P < 0.05). Molecular analysis showed that all the cysts used were G1 genotype.ConclusionThe data suggest that S. marianum ethanolic extract is a potential scolicide in vitro; however, further investigations are required to determine its efficacy in vivo.
Highlights
The zoonotic tapeworm, Echinococcus granulosus (E. granulosus), is a genetically diverse metazoan parasite causing cystic echinococcosis (CE) or hydatid disease [1, 2]
In a literature review, we investigated the effects of a wide range of Iranian medicinal plants on protoscolices (PSCs) of E. granulosus
Subsequent polymerase chain reaction (PCR)–restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis using Bsh1236I restriction enzyme demonstrated that isolated E. granulosus cysts were of G1 genotype (Fig. 2)
Summary
The zoonotic tapeworm, Echinococcus granulosus (E. granulosus), is a genetically diverse metazoan parasite causing cystic echinococcosis (CE) or hydatid disease [1, 2]. Surgery remains the most common treatment with chemotherapy as an adjuvant [15, 16], this is not appropriate for all cyst stages [17]. Cystic echinococcosis (CE), is a parasitic zoonosis caused by Echinococcus granulosus (E. granulosus) larvae in liver and lungs of both humans and animals. Surgical intervention is the mainstay for CE treatment, using scolicidal agents that inactivate live protoscolices. In a literature review, we investigated the effects of a wide range of Iranian medicinal plants on protoscolices of E. granulosus
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.