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Schistosomicidal, antifibrotic and antioxidant effects of Cucurbita pepo L. seed oil and praziquantel combined treatment for Schistosoma mansoni infection in a mouse model

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 April 2018

E.V.N. Beshay ,
A.A. Rady ,
A.F. Afifi  and
A.H. Mohamed
E.V.N. Beshay*
Affiliation:
Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University. Menoufia, Egypt
A.A. Rady
Affiliation:
Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University. Menoufia, Egypt
A.F. Afifi
Affiliation:
Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University. Menoufia, Egypt
A.H. Mohamed
Affiliation:
Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Menoufia University. Menoufia, Egypt
*
Author for correspondence: E.V.N Beshay, E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Despite the seriousness of schistosomiasis, its treatment depends only on praziquantel (PZQ), which has begun to lose its efficacy against the emergent Schistosoma mansoni-resistant strains. Therefore, the discovery of a novel schistosomicidal drug is an urgent priority. This study was designed to evaluate treatment with Cucurbita pepo L. (pumpkin) seed oil (PSO) alone and combined with PZQ against S. mansoni in experimentally infected mice. The study involved five groups: GI was the normal control; GII was the infected control; GIII was treated with an oral dose of PZQ of 500 mg/kg/day for two successive days, starting in the sixth week post infection; GIV was treated with an oral dose of PSO of 50 mg/kg/day for four weeks, starting in the fourth week post infection; and GV was treated with combined PSO–PZQ. Worm burden, tissue egg load and oogram pattern were estimated, and the ultrastructure alterations were examined. Histopathological examination of granuloma diameters, collagen deposition (Picro Sirius red stain), and angiogenesis (immunohistochemical expression of CD34+) was conducted and serum liver enzymes were measured to assess the liver condition. Moreover, the oxidative stress was evaluated by determining the amounts of malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase in liver homogenates. The results revealed significant changes in all the assessed parameters with PSO administration. However, PZQ was significantly more effective as an antiparasitic agent, whereas PSO was better in terms of fibrosis and oxidative stress. The most significant results were obtained in group V, which may be attributed to a synergy between PZQ and PSO, with antiparasitic, antioxidant and antifibrotic properties.

Type
Research Paper
Information
Journal of Helminthology , Volume 93 , Issue 3 , May 2019 , pp. 286 - 294
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

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