In Vivo Therapeutic Effect of Some Medicinal Plants’ Methanolic Extracts on the Growth and Development of Secondary Hydatid Cyst Infection

• Published in: Acta parasitologica Vol. 67; no. 4; pp. 1521 - 1534
• Main Authors: Al Qaisi, Yaseen T., Khleifat, Khaled M., Alfarrayeh, Ibrahim I., Alsarayreh, Ahmad Z.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.12.2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Albendazole; Animal Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Citrullus colocynthis; Cysts; Cytokines; Ecology; Hematology; Herbal medicine; In vivo methods and tests; Infections; Interleukin 10; Interleukin 4; Medical Microbiology; Medicinal plants; Methanol; Microbiology; Original Paper; Parasitology; Peganum harmala; Plant extracts; Ruta graveolens; Secondary infection; Seeds; γ-Interferon; Hydatid cysts; Interleukins; Therapeutics; Germinal layer
• ISSN: 1230-2821; 1896-1851
• DOI: 10.1007/s11686-022-00605-6

Purpose The current study aimed to explore the in vivo therapeutic effects of the methanolic extracts of Citrullus colocynthis , Ruta graveolens , and Peganum harmala against hydatid cyst secondary infection . Methods Aerial parts of P. harmala and R. graveolens , including leaves and stems, and seeds of C. colocynthis were collected and extracted using absolute methanol. Rats that are infected with secondary infection of hydatid cysts were treated orally and intraperitoneally according to the determined lethal doses for 30 days. Histological, hematological, and biochemical investigations were done 8 months after the infection. Results Compared to Albendazole drug, C. colocynthis, and P. harmala, the methanol extract of R. graveolens showed higher and significant ( P  < 0.05) therapeutic effects on the secondary hydatid cysts growth. Those effects were represented by the reduction in the cysts’ number, size, and weight; as well as the significant changes ( P  < 0.05) in values of hematological and biochemical parameters, the elevation of IFN-γ levels, and the decline of IL-10 and IL-4 cytokines, compared to the negative control group in both routes of treatment (oral and IP). Moreover, the histological sections showed that R. graveolens has a clear damaging effect on the hydatid cysts GL in the infected rats represented by the detachment of GL from LL and AL. Conclusion This study can open an avenue to find new therapeutics for secondary hydatid cyst infections using the studied plant extracts, especially the extract of R. graveolens .