Korean J Parasitol.  2011 Sep;49(3):255-263. 10.3347/kjp.2011.49.3.255.

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

• Yones DA
• Taher GA
• Ibraheim Z

• KMID: 1715648
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2011.49.3.255

Abstract

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 microg/ml) and 3 different concentrations each of thymol and menthol (50, 10, and 1 microg/ml) were used. Concentration of 2,500 microg/ml of both extracts showed a significant protoscolicidal activity on the 6th day. Complete loss of viability of protoscolices occurred with 500 microg/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 microg/ml concentration at day 2 and day 5 PT, respectively. These effects were compared with those of albendazole sulfoxide (800 microg/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.

Keyword

Echinococcus granulosus; cystic echinococcus; protoscolex; thyme; salvia; essential oil; thymol; menthol

MeSH Terms

Animals
Anthelmintics/isolation & purification/*pharmacology
Camels
Cell Survival/drug effects
Echinococcosis, Pulmonary/*parasitology
Echinococcus granulosus/*drug effects/isolation & purification
Lung/parasitology
Medicine, Traditional/methods
Plant Extracts/isolation & purification/*pharmacology
Plants, Medicinal/*chemistry
Salvia officinalis/chemistry
Thymus Plant/chemistry
Time Factors