Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate the scolicidal activity of Nigella sativa seed's oil concerning the viability in vitro and biomolecules content (carbohydrates, proteins and nucleic acids) ofEchinococcus granulosus protoscolices. Protoscolices were aseptically aspiratedfromcysts of livers and lungs (naturally infected) which eradicated from goats and sheep that had been slaughtered at Mosul local abattoir / Nineveh / Iraq from September 2017 to May 2018. Various concentrations of N. sativa seed's oil (20 to 60 µl/ml) were applied on special time interval (5-40min). Viability of protoscolices was checked using vital stain (0.1% aqueous eosin). Concentration of carbohydrates, proteins and nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) were estimated after treating the protoscolices with LC50 of the seed's oil (40 µl/ml) comparing with untreated group. It is revealed that mortality rate of protoscolices, those were treated for 10 minutes with 40 µl/ml and 60 µl/ml of Nigella sativa oil, were approximately 50% and 100% respectively. Viability % of protoscolices treated with 20% hypertonic saline solution for 5 minutes was 43%, whereas, 16% of protoscolices were viable when treated with 60 µl/ml of seed's oilat the same time. The experiments detect concentration and time-dependent scolicidal effect of N. sativa seed's oilon the E. granulosus protoscolices. Mean concentrations of carbohydrates, proteins and nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) were significantly higher at P≤ 0.05 in control group (62.6µg/ml, 31.0 mg/dl and (23.4 and 82.9 µg/ml, respectively) than that found in LC50 treated protoscolices (58.3 µg/ml, 15.3 mg/dl and (18.19 and 64.48 µg/ml, respectively).The study showed that oil extract of N. sativa seedshas a significant (P≤ 0.05) clear impact in reducing viability of E. granulosus protoscolices, as well as, mean concentrations of its biomolecules which may open away for further experiments about scolicidal validity of N. sativa seeds oil in vivo.
Highlights
Echinococcosis is a well-known anthropozoonosis that is endemic in many regions of the world
Different concentrations of Nigella sativa seed's oil following different incubation times interval were applied to estimate the lethal concentration of N. sativa oil for 50% of protoscolices (LC50)
On the other hand, treating protoscolices with 60 μl/ml seed's oil for 10 min were approximately eliminate all protoscolices. It seems that lethal concentration 50 (LC50) of seed's oil for E.g. protoscolices was 40 μl/ml after 10 min of brood, while lethal concentration 90 (LC90) was 55 μl/ml of the oil at the same incubation period (Figure 1)
Summary
Echinococcosis is a well-known anthropozoonosis that is endemic in many regions of the world. It's one of the most important neglected parasitic diseases and has been identified as universal popular health problem especially in developing regions including Iraq [1]. Surgical removal of hydatid cyst remains the preferred choice [5,6]. Chemotherapy with benzimidazoles groups and PAIR (puncture, aspiration, injection, and respiration) are recommended as alternative treatments to surgery, especially for the patients who cannot tolerate surgery and to decrease the risk of intraoperative spillage of the cyst contents (protoscolices) [7,8]. Recurrence of cystic echinococcosis and secondary infection, which is observed in about 10% of the postoperative cases, the use of effective scolicidal agents are essential [9,10]
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