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Interactions between mefloquine and the anti-fibrotic drug silymarin on Schistosoma mansoni infections in mice

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2016

Reem O.A. Kamel
Reem O.A. Kamel*
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, Faculty of Women for Arts, Science and Education, Ain Shams University, Asmaa Fahmy St, Heliopolis, Cairo11757, Egypt
*
*E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

The present study tests the anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects of silymarin alone or combined with mefloquine on acute schistosomiasis by evaluating parasitological, histopathological, biochemical and immunological parameters. Male CDI Swiss mice were divided into seven groups, which included healthy controls, mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni or treated with silymarin (140 mg/kg body weight) or mefloquine (400 mg/kg body weight), or mice treated with a combination of both drugs and uninfected mice simply treated with mefloquine or silymarin alone. All mouse groups were sacrificed 8 weeks post-infection (pi) and/or post-treatment. Those infected mice treated with both silymarin and mefloquine showed a significant decrease (P <  0.001) in worm burden, immunoglobulins (IgG and IgM), liver function enzymes and granuloma diameter, with complete eradication of immature and mature eggs. In conclusion, treatment with silymarin combined with mefloquine in murine schistosomiasis was able to reduce granulomatous reactions and hepatic fibrosis. Hence, this combination is a new strategy to be studied as an efficient tool in the treatment of schistosomal liver fibrosis.

Type
Research Papers
Information
Journal of Helminthology , Volume 90 , Issue 6 , November 2016 , pp. 760 - 765
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2016 

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