17 research outputs found
Scolicidal effects of black cumin seed (Nigella sativa) essential oil on hydatid cysts
Abstract: Surgery remains the preferred treatment for hydatid cyst (cystic echinococcosis, CE). Various scolicidal agents
have been used for inactivation of protoscolices during surgery, but most of them are associated with adverse side effects.
The present study aimed to evaluate the in vitro scolicidal effect of Nigella sativa (Ranunculaceae) essential oil and also its
active principle, thymoquinone, against protoscolices of hydatid cysts. Protoscolices were aseptically aspirated from sheep
livers having hydatid cysts. Various concentrations of the essential oil (0.01-10 mg/ml) and thymoquinone (0.125-1.0 mg/ml)
were used for 5 to 60 min. Viability of protoscolices was confirmed by 0.1% eosin staining. Furthermore, the components
of the N. sativa essential oil were identified by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS). Our study revealed that
the essential oil of N. sativa at the concentration of 10 mg/ml and its main component, thymoquinone, at the concentration
of 1 mg/ml had potent scolicidal activities against protoscolices of Echinococcus granulosus after 10 min exposure. Moreover,
thymoquinone (42.4%), p-cymene (14.1%), carvacrol (10.3%), and longifolene (6.1%) were found to be the major
components of N. sativa essential oil by GC/MS analysis. The results of this study indicated the potential of N. sativa as a
natural source for production of a new scolicidal agent for use in hydatid cyst surgery. However, further studies will be
needed to confirm these results by checking the essential oil and its active component in in vivo models
In vitro lethal effects of various extracts of Nigella sativa seed on hydatid cyst protoscoleces
Objective(s): There are several scolicidal agents for inactivation of hydatid cyst protoscolices during
surgery, but most of them are associated with adverse side effects such as sclerosing cholangitis and
liver necrosis. The present study was aimed to evaluate scolicidal effects of various extracts of
Nigella sativa seeds against protoscoleces of hydatid cyst in an in vitro model.
Materials and Methods: Protoscoleces were aseptically aspirated from naturally infected livers of
sheep and goats. Various concentrations of the different extracts of N. sativa (5 to 50 mg/ml) were
used for 5 to 60 min. Viability of protoscoleces was confirmed by 0.1% eosin staining.
Results: The findings exhibited that methanolic extract at the concentration of 50 mg/ml after 10
min of incubation, and aqueous extract at the concentration of 50 mg/ml after 30 min of incubation
can kill 100% of protoscoleces. In addition, all of experiments revealed dose-dependent and also
time-dependent scolicidal effect of various extracts of N. sativa on the protoscoleces of hydatid cyst.
Conclusion: The results of the present study demonstrated that N. sativa may be a natural source
for the production of new scolicidal agent for use in hydatid cyst surgery. However, further studies
will be required to evaluate scolicidal effects of N. sativa in the in vivo model
Chemical composition and scolicidal activity of Zataria multiflora Boiss essential oil
Zataria multiflora Boiss (Lamiaceae) commonly grows in Iran is a popular medicinal plant with various
pharmacological activities mentioned in traditional Iranian medicine and modern phytotherapy.
This study was designed to evaluate the chemical composition and scolicidal effects of Z. multiflora
essential oil on the protoscoleces of hydatid cysts on an in vitro model. The components of the Z.
multiflora essential oil were identified by GC/MS analysis. Protoscoleces were aseptically aspirated
from the livers of naturally infected sheep. Various concentrations of essential oil, thymol and
carvacrol were used for 5–30 minutes. Eosin exclusion test was used to determine the viability
of protoscoleces. The main components were thymol (41.8%), carvacrol (28.8%), and p-cymene
(8.4%). Findings showed that essential oil at the concentrations of 12.5 and 6.25 μL/mL killed 100%
protoscoleces after 5 and 20 minutes of exposure, respectively. In addition, thymol and carvacrol
at the concentrations of 100 μg/mL and 100 μL/mL killed 100% protoscoleces after 10 minutes
incubation, respectively. Obtained results in this investigation for the first time demonstrated that
Z. multiflora essential oil and its main components might be a natural source for the production of
new scolicidal agent
Evaluation of antileishmanial activity and cytotoxicity of the extracts of Berberis vulgaris and Nigella sativa against Leishmania tropica
Background & objectives: Leishmaniasis is a major public health problem, and the alarming spread of parasite
resistance underlines the importance of discovering new therapeutic products. The present study aims to investigate
the in vitro antileishmanial activity and cytotoxicity of the ethanolic extract of Berberis vulgaris fruits and
chloroform extract of Nigella sativa seeds against Leishmania tropica.
Methods: In this study, antileishmanial activity of B. vulgaris and N. sativa extracts on promastigote and amastigote
stages of L. tropica in comparison to meglumine antimoniate (MA) was evaluated, using MTT assay and macrophage
model, respectively. MTT test was also used to assess the cytotoxicity of extracts on murine macrophages. The
significance of differences was determined by analysis of variances (ANOVA) and student’s t-test using SPSS
software.
Results: The results showed that ethanolic extract of B. vulgaris (IC50 4.83 μg/ml) and chloroform extract of N.
sativa (IC50 7.83 μg/ml) significantly reduced the viability of promastigotes of L. tropica in comparison to MA
(IC50 11.26 μg/ml). Furthermore, extracts of B. vulgaris (IC50 24.03 μg/ml) and N. sativa (IC50 30.21 μg/ml)
significantly decreased the growth rate of amastigotes in each macrophage as compared with positive control
(p <0.05). Our findings also revealed that extracts of B. vulgaris and N. sativa had no significant cytotoxicity
against murine macrophages.
Conclusion: The B. vulgaris and N. sativa extracts exhibited an effective leishmanicidal activity against L. tropica
on in vitro model. Further, works are required to evaluate the exact effect of these extracts on Leishmania species
using a clinical setting
In Vitro Study of Leishmanicidal Activity of Biogenic Selenium Nanoparticles against Iranian Isolate of Sensitive and Glucantime- Resistant Leishmania tropica
Background: Sensitive and glucantime (MA) resistance Leishmania tropica are referred
to those isolates, which are responsive, or non-responsive to one or two full
courses of treatment by MA systematically and/or intra-lesionally, respectively. In
this study, we evaluated the antileishmanial activity of biogenic selenium nanoparticles
(Se NPs) alone and in combination with MA against sensitive and glucantimeresistant
L. tropica on in vitro model.
Methods: The Se NPs were synthesized by employing the Bacillus sp. MSh-1. The
antileishmanial effects of Se NPs alone and in combination with MA on promastigote
and amastigote stages of sensitive and glucantime-resistant L. tropica
strains have been investigated using a colorimetric MTT assay and in a macrophage
model. In addition hemolytic activity in type O+ human red blood cells and infectivity
rate of the promastigotes before and after treatment with the Se NPs was
evaluated.
Results: In the promastigote stage, various concentrations of Se NPs significantly
inhibited (P<0.05) the growth of promastigotes of both strains in a dose-dependent
manner. Similarly, Se NPs especially in combination with MA significantly reduced
the mean number of amastigotes of both strains in each macrophage. Se NPs
showed no hemolytic effect on human RBCs at low concentrations. Moreover, infection
rate of macrophages by promastigotes significantly (P<0.05) was reduced
when promastigotes pre-treated with Se NPs.
Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest a first step in the search of Se
NPs as a new antileishmanial agent. Further experiments are needed to investigate
antileishmanial effects of biogenic Se NPs on L. tropica using a clinical setting
Evaluation of antileishmanial activity and cytotoxicity of the extracts of Berberis vulgaris and Nigella sativa against Leishmania tropica
Background & objectives: Leishmaniasis is a major public health problem, and the alarming spread of parasite resistance underlines the importance of discovering new therapeutic products. The present study aims to investigate the in vitro antileishmanial activity and cytotoxicity of the ethanolic extract of Berberis vulgaris fruits and chloroform extract of Nigella sativa seeds against Leishmania tropica.
Methods: In this study, antileishmanial activity of B. vulgaris and N. sativa extracts on promastigote and amastigote
stages of L. tropica in comparison to meglumine antimoniate (MA) was evaluated, using MTT assay and macrophage
model, respectively. MTT test was also used to assess the cytotoxicity of extracts on murine macrophages. The
significance of differences was determined by analysis of variances (ANOVA) and student’s t-test using SPSS
software.
Results: The results showed that ethanolic extract of B. vulgaris (IC50 4.83 μg/ml) and chloroform extract of N. sativa (IC50 7.83 μg/ml) significantly reduced the viability of promastigotes of L. tropica in comparison to MA (IC50 11.26 μg/ml). Furthermore, extracts of B. vulgaris (IC50 24.03 μg/ml) and N. sativa (IC50 30.21 μg/ml) significantly decreased the growth rate of amastigotes in each macrophage as compared with positive control (p <0.05). Our findings also revealed that extracts of B. vulgaris and N. sativa had no significant cytotoxicity
against murine macrophages.
Conclusion: The B. vulgaris and N. sativa extracts exhibited an effective leishmanicidal activity against L. tropica on in vitro model. Further, works are required to evaluate the exact effect of these extracts on Leishmania species using a clinical setting
Scolicidal effects of biogenic selenium nanoparticles against protoscolices of hydatid cysts
Cystic echinococcosis (hydatid cyst, CE) as a zoonotic parasitic infection caused by the larval stage of the
dog tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus is still an important economic and public health concern in the
world. One of the treatment options for CE is surgical removal of the cysts combined with chemotherapy
using albendazole and/or mebendazole before and after surgery. Currently, many scolicidal agents, which
have some complications, have been used for inactivation of the cyst contents. Therefore the development
of new scolicidal agents with low side effects and more efficacies is an urgent need for surgeons.
The present study was aimed to investigate the in vitro scolicidal effect of selenium nanoparticles biosynthesized
by a newly isolated marine bacterial strain Bacillus sp. MSh-1 against protoscoleces of
E. granulosus. Protoscolices were aseptically aspirated from sheep livers having hydatid cysts. Various
concentrations (50e500 mg/ml) of Se NPs (in size range of about 80e220 nm) were used for 10e60 min.
Viability of protoscoleces was confirmed by 0.1% eosin staining. The results indicated that biogenic Se NPs
at all concentrations have potent scolicidal effects especially at concentrations 500 and 250 mg/ml after
10 and 20 min of application, respectively. In conclusion, the findings of present study proven that Se NPs
have potent scolicidal effects, therefore may be used in CE surgery. However, the in vivo efficacy of these
NPs remains to be explored
The Antileishmanial Activity of Essential Oils from Some Traditionally Used Medicinal Plants in Iran
Background and Aim: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is the most common type of leishmaniasis affecting 1.5 million people through the world annually. Treatment of CL by pentavalent antimony compounds remains a challenge because of adverse side effects. The present study was designed to evaluate the in vitro antileishmanial properties of six essential oils from selected spices and herbs ethno-medicinally used in Iran against Leishmania tropica and L. major promastigotes.
Materials and Methods: The in vitro antileishmanial effects of selected medicinal plants against L. tropica and L. major promastigotes were evaluated by colorimetric cell viability (MTT) assay. The IC50 values were also calculated by probit test using SPSS software.
Results: The findings demonstrated that all the tested essential oils had inhibitory effects on promastigote growth of L. tropica with IC50 values ranging from 3.2µg/mL to 19.3µg/mL and 2.7µg/mL to 18.8µg/mL for L. tropica and L. major, respectively. Zataria multiflora Boiss essential oil significantly (P<0.05) was much more effective than essential oils of the other tested plants and control drugs once they demonstrated lower IC50 values promastigote form.
Conclusions: The findings of present study indicated antileishmanial effects of some Iranian medicinal plants particularly Z. multiflora Boiss. However, further studies, on the animal models as well as volunteer human, are needed to confirm these results
In Vitro Study of Leishmanicidal Activity of Biogenic Selenium Nanoparticles against Iranian Isolate of Sensitive and Glucantime-Resistant Leishmania tropica
Background: Sensitive and glucantime (MA) resistance Leishmania tropica are referred to those isolates, which are responsive, or non-responsive to one or two full courses of treatment by MA systematically and/or intra-lesionally, respectively. In this study, we evaluated the antileishmanial activity of biogenic selenium nanoparticles (Se NPs) alone and in combination with MA against sensitive and glucantimeresistant L. tropica on in vitro model.
Methods: The Se NPs were synthesized by employing the Bacillus sp. MSh-1. The antileishmanial effects of Se NPs alone and in combination with MA on promastigote and amastigote stages of sensitive and glucantime-resistant L. tropica strains have been investigated using a colorimetric MTT assay and in a macrophage model. In addition hemolytic activity in type O+ human red blood cells and infectivity rate of the promastigotes before and after treatment with the Se NPs was evaluated.
Results: In the promastigote stage, various concentrations of Se NPs significantly inhibited (P<0.05) the growth of promastigotes of both strains in a dose-dependent manner. Similarly, Se NPs especially in combination with MA significantly reduced the mean number of amastigotes of both strains in each macrophage. Se NPs showed no hemolytic effect on human RBCs at low concentrations. Moreover, infection rate of macrophages by promastigotes significantly (P<0.05) was reduced when promastigotes pre-treated with Se NPs.
Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest a first step in the search of Se NPs as a new antileishmanial agent. Further experiments are needed to investigate antileishmanial effects of biogenic Se NPs on L. tropica using a clinical setting
Protoscolecidal Effect of Berberis vulgaris Root Extract and Its Main Compound, Berberine in Cystic Echinococcosis
Background: Cystic echinococcosis (CE), a zoonotic parasitic infection caused by the metacestode (larvae) stage of dog tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus and recognized as a major economic and public health concern in the world. This study aimed to investigate the in vitro scolicidal effect of methanolic extract of Berberis vulgaris L. roots and its main compound, berberine against protoscoleces of hydatid cysts.
Methods: For this purpose, protoscoleces were aseptically aspirated from sheep livers having hydatid cysts. Various concentrations of the methanolic extract (0.25-2 mg/ml) and berberine (0.062- 0.5 mg/ml) were used for 5 to 30 min. Viability of protoscoleces was confirmed by eosin exclusive test.
Results: In the present study, all of the various concentrations of the B. vulgaris methanolic extract (0.25, 0.5, 1 and 2 mg/ml) and berberine (0.062, 0.125, 0.25 and 0.5 mg/ml) revealed significant (P<0.05) scolicidal effects against protoscoleces of E. granulosus in a dose-dependent manner. Both berberine and methanolic extract exhibited 100% inhibition against protoscoleces of E. granulosus at the concentration of 2.0 and 0.5 mg/ml after 10 min incubation respectively.
Conclusion: According to the results, both B. vulgaris methanolic extract and berberine alone demonstrated high scolicidal activities against protoscoleces of hydatid cysts in low concentration and short exposure time on in vitro model.However, in vivo efficacy of B. vulgaris and berberine also requires to be evaluated using an animal model with hydatid infection