In Vitro Effects of Some Herbs Used in Egyptian Traditional Medicine on Viability of Protoscolices of Hydatid Cysts

• Published in: Korean journal of parasitology Vol. 49; no. 3; pp. 255 - 263
• Main Authors: Yones, Doaa A., Assiut University, Egypt, Taher, Gamal A., Animal Health Research Institute, Parasitology Unit, Assiut Laboratory, Egyot, Ibraheim, Zedan Z., Assiut University, Egypt
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) 대한기생충학열대의학회 01-09-2011; The Korean Society for Parasitology
• Subjects: ACEITES ESENCIALES; Animals; Anthelmintics - isolation & purification; Anthelmintics - pharmacology; Camelus; Cell Survival - drug effects; cystic echinococcus; Echinococcosis, Pulmonary - parasitology; ECHINOCOCCUS GRANULOSUS; Echinococcus granulosus - drug effects; Echinococcus granulosus - isolation & purification; ESSENTIAL OILS; HUILE ESSENTIELLE; Lung - parasitology; Medicine, Traditional - methods; MENTHOL; MENTOL; Original; Plant Extracts - isolation & purification; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plants, Medicinal - chemistry; protoscolex; SALVIA; SALVIA (GENERO); Salvia officinalis - chemistry; THYM; THYME; THYMOL; Thymus Plant - chemistry; Time Factors; TIMOL; TOMILLO; thymol; menthol; protoscolex; salvia; cystic echinococcus; essential oil; thyme; Echinococcus granulosus
• ISSN: 0023-4001; 1738-0006
• DOI: 10.3347/kjp.2011.49.3.255

The present work evaluated the effects of alcoholic extracts of salvia (Salvia officinalis), thyme (Thymus vulgaris), and 2 pure compounds (thymol and menthol) on the viability of Echinococcus granulosus protoscolices in vitro. Four different concentrations of each extract (2,500, 1,500, 1,000, and 500 ㎍/ml) and 3 different concentrations each of thymol and menthol (50, 10, and 1 ㎍/ml) were used. Concentration of 2,500 ㎍/ml of both extracts showed a significant protoscolicidal activity on the 6th day. Complete loss of viability of protoscolices occurred with 500 ㎍/ml concentration of both extracts at day 6 and day 7 post-treatment (PT), respectively. Pure compounds, i.e., menthol and thymol, showed potent effects with 50 ㎍/ml concentration at day 2 and day 5 PT, respectively. These effects were compared with those of albendazole sulfoxide (800 ㎍/ml), a commonly used treatment drug for hydatidosis. Krebs-Ringer solution and the hydatid cystic fluid at a ratio of 4:1 was a good preservative solution which kept the protoscolices viable for 15 days.