Evaluation of the therapeutic efficacy of some essential oils in experimentally immunosuppressed mice infected with Cryptosporidium parvum

Theodor Bilharz Research Institute

Bibliographic Information

Authors: Taha N.M.; Zalat R.S.; Khaled E.; Elmansory B.M.

Journal: Journal of Parasitic Diseases

Publisher: Springer

Publication Date: 3 August 2023

Volume / Issue: Volume 47 / Issue 4

Pages: 733–743

ISSN: 9717196

DOI: 10.1007/s12639-023-01621-7

Scopus: View on Scopus

Document Type: Article

Access: All Open Access; Green Open Access


Authors and Affiliations

Taha N.M., Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; Zalat R.S., Department of Parasitology, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Imbaba, Giza, Egypt; Khaled E., Department of Surgical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; Elmansory B.M., Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt


Abstract

Cryptosporidiosis is a serious intestinal disease affecting mal-nourished children and immunocompromised individuals with severe fatal diarrhea. Our present work was done to evaluate the possible curative effects of different essential oils (Mint, Thyme, Chamomile and Basil) on Cryptosporidium parvum (C. parvum) in vivo compared with nitazoxanide (NTZ). Seventy immunosuppressed white Albino male mice were allocated in 7 groups as follows: group I infected and not treated (Positive control), group II (GII) treated with NTZ, group III (GIII) treated with Mint essential oil, group IV (GIV) treated with Thyme essential oil, group V (GV) treated with Chamomile essential oil, group VI (GVI) treated with Basil essential oil and group VII (GVII) naïve not infected mice (Negative control). Evaluation was done using parasitological, histopatholgical, serological as well as biochemical methods. All study groups revealed significant reduction (P value < 0.01) in the mean number of C. parvum oocysts in stool. Results of GII were the best with 87.7% reduction in the oocysts count followed by GIII (77.9%), GIV (74.7%), GVI (68.2%) and lastly GV (67.2%). Improvement of the histopathological damage in the small intestine was shown in treated groups. All treated mice showed significant upregulation in the interferon gamma (IFN-γ) levels, significant reduction in the malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels (P value < 0.0001). It is concluded that Mint, Thyme, Chamomile and Basil oils showed promising anti-cryptosporidial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant functions. © 2023, Indian Society for Parasitology.


Keywords

Basil; Chamomile; Cryptosporidium parvum; Mint; Nitazoxanide; Thyme; dexamethasone; essential oil; gamma interferon; malonaldehyde; Matricaria chamomilla extract; potassium dihydrogen phosphate; superoxide dismutase; thyme oil; animal experiment; animal tissue; antiinflammatory activity; antioxidant activity; Article; biochemical analysis; biochemistry; blood sampling; cell infiltration; child; controlled study; cryptosporidiosis; Cryptosporidium; diarrhea; dissection; DNA isolation; histopathology; hyperplasia; immunosuppressive treatment; in vivo study; intestine mucosa; lamina propria; lymph follicle; macrophage; male; mouse; nonhuman; oocyst; parasitology; polymerase chain reaction; serology; upregulation


Citation Information

Scopus Citations: 12


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