Ginger (Zingiber officinale)-derived nanoparticles in schistosoma mansoni infected mice: hepatoprotective and enhancer of etiological treatment

Bibliographic Information
Authors: Abd El Wahab W.M.; El-Badry A.A.; Mahmoud S.S.; El-Badry Y.A.; El-Badry M.A.; Hamdy D.A.
Journal: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
Publisher: Public Library of Science
Publication Date: 20 May 2021
Volume / Issue: Volume 15 / Issue 5
Article No.: e0009423
ISSN: 19352727
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009423
Scopus: View on Scopus
PubMed: 34014936
Document Type: Article
Access: All Open Access; Gold Open Access; Green Open Access
Authors and Affiliations
Abd El Wahab W.M., Department of Medical Parasitology, College of Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt; El-Badry A.A., Department of Microbiology-Medical Parasitology Section, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia; Mahmoud S.S., Department of Parasitology, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute (TBRI), Giza, Egypt; El-Badry Y.A., Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Taif University, Khurma, Taif, Saudi Arabia, Organic Chemistry Lab, Faculty of Specific Education, Ain Shams University, Abbasseya, Cairo, Egypt; El-Badry M.A., Research Institute of Medical Entomology, General Organization for Teaching Hospitals and Institutes (GOTHI), Giza, Egypt; Hamdy D.A., Department of Medical Parasitology, College of Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt
Abstract
Background Nanotechnology has been manufactured from medicinal plants to develop safe, and effective antischistosmal alternatives to replace today’s therapies. The aim of the study is to eval-uate the prophylactic effect of ginger-derived nanoparticles (GNPs), and the therapeutic effect of ginger aqueous extract, and GNPs on Schistosoma mansoni (S. mansoni) infected mice compared to praziquantel (PZQ), and mefloquine (MFQ). Methodology/principal findings Eighty four mice, divided into nine different groups, were sacrificed at 6th, 8th, and 10th week post-infection (PI), with assessment of parasitological, histopathological, and oxidative stress parame-ters, and scanning the worms by electron microscope. As a prophylactic drug, GNPs showed slight reduction in worm burden, egg density, and granuloma size and number. As a therapeutic drug, GNPs significantly reduced worm burden (59.9%), tissue egg load (64.9%), granuloma size, and number at 10th week PI, and altered adult worm tegumental architecture, added to anti-oxidant effect. Interestingly, combination of GNPs with PZQ or MFQ gave almost similar or sometimes better curative effects as obtained with each drug separately. The highest therapeutic effect was obtained when ½ dose GNPs combined with ½ dose MFQ which achieved 100% reduction in both the total worm burden, and ova tissue density as early as the 6th week PI, with absence of detected eggs or tissue granuloma, and preservation of liver architecture. Conclusions/significance GNPs have a schistosomicidal, antioxidant, and hepatoprotective role. GNPs have a strong synergistic effect when combined with etiological treatments (PZQ or MFQ), and significantly reduced therapeutic doses by 50%, which may mitigate side effects and resis-tance to etiological drugs, a hypothesis requiring further research. We recommend extend-ing this study to humans. © 2021 Abd El Wahab et al.
Keywords
Administration, Oral; Animals; Anthelmintics; Drug Therapy, Combination; Ginger; Granuloma; Liver; Male; Mefloquine; Mice; Nanoparticles; Parasite Egg Count; Plant Extracts; Praziquantel; Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis; Schistosoma mansoni; Schistosomiasis mansoni; alcohol; catalase; edetic acid; ginger derived nanoparticle; ginger extract; heparin; liver protective agent; malonaldehyde; nanoparticle; phosphate buffered saline; polysorbate 80; potassium dihydrogen phosphate; sodium chloride; thiobarbituric acid reactive substance; triton x 100; anthelmintic agent; plant extract; animal experiment; animal model; animal tissue; antioxidant activity; Article; controlled study; histopathology; liver tissue; nonhuman; oxidative stress; parasitological parameters; photon correlation spectroscopy; prophylaxis; scanning electron microscopy; schistosomiasis; synergistic effect; worm burden; animal; chemistry; combination drug therapy; drug effect; mouse; oral drug administration; parasitology
Citation Information
Scopus Citations: 44
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