Protoscolicidal and immunomodulatory activity of Ziziphora tenuior extract and its fractions

Objective:To evaluate the scolicidal and immunomodulatory effect of the Ziziphora tenuior(Z.tenuior) extract and its fractions.Methods:Protoscolices were treated with six concentrations(3,5,10,25,50,and 100 mg/mL) of Z.tenuior extract and its fractions(ethanol,petroleum ether,ethyl acetate and chloroform) in periods of 10,20,30,40,50 and 60 minutes,and viability of protoscolices was evaluated using the 1.0%eosin.To examine the immunomodulatory effects of Ziziphora and its fractions on macrophage cells,the non-toxic concentration of extract and different fractions determined by MTT assay,and the Griess reaction was used to measure the level of nitrite as an indicator of nitric oxide by the macrophage cells in 10,100 and 200 μg/mL in 24 hours at 37 ℃.Results:In this study,the Z.tenuior extract at 10 mg/mL concentration was able to kill all protoscolices during 20 minutes.By increasing the concentration to 25 mg/mL,the scolicidal time reduced to 10 minutes.Regarding the effect of different fractions of Z.tenuior,the ethanolic fraction showed the highest scolicidal activity.The extract demonstrated an inhibitory effect on the activity of macrophages and reduced nitric oxide production.Although the petroleum ether and ethanolic fractions of the extract reduced nitric oxide production,nevertheless,this effect was only significant at 10 and 100 ug/mL concentrations(P<0.05).Conclusion:The Z.tenuior extract and its fractions were effective against protoscolices yet the effect of total extract was considerable.Our findings indicates that the extract and its ethanolic and petroleum ether fractions could have anti-inflammatory properties.

In-vitro scolicidal activity of Mallotus philippinensis (Lam.) Muell Arg. fruit glandular hair extract against hydatid cyst Echinococcus granulosus

Objective: To investigate new scolicidal agent from natural resources to cope with the side effects associated with synthetic drugs in Echinococcosis. Methods: The scolicidal potential of methanolic fruit powder extract (10 and 20 mg/mL) of Mallotus philippinensis ( M. philippinensis ) was investigated. Viability of protoscoleces was confirmed by trypan blue exclusion method, where mortality was observed at concentration of 10 and 20 mg/mL in 60 min treatment against Echinococcus granulosus ( E. granulosus ), under in-vitro conditions with reference to the known standard drug Praziquantel . Results: At concentration 10 and 20 mg/mL, the mortality rate was observed 97% and 99% respectively for 60 min treatment; while up to 93% mortality was observed with 20 mg/mL for only 10 min treatment. The concentration above 20 mg/mL for above 2 h showed 100% mortality, irrespective of further incubation. Conclusions: As compared with the standard anti-parasitic drug Praziquantel our extract has significant scolicidal activity with almost no associated side effects.