In vitro screening of different Allium sativum extracts on hydatid cysts protoscoleces.

This study was conducted to assess the protoscolicidal effect of garlic (Allium sativum) extract on protoscoleces of hydatid cysts in vitro. Viability of protoscoleces was determined, as the percent of viable protoscoleces to the total protoscoleces in 1 ml of the hydatid fluid, using eosin stain method. Four types of garlic extracts including: aquaus extract, chloroform extract (with two concentrations) and hydro-alcoholic extract along with cetrimide and silver nitrate as positive control, and normal saline as negative control, were used in this study. In vitro tests were performed at 37 degrees C with exposure times of 30 minutes, one, two, four, and six hours. The protoscolecidal activity of the used materials was determined by counting of 250 protoscoleces. The mean percent and standard deviation (SD) of protoscolecidal activity of different used materials were as follows: cetrimide: 100 +/- 00, garlic chloroform extract with 200 mg/ml concentration: 99.58 +/- 1.63, garlic chloroform extract with 100 mg/ml concentration: 96.06 +/- 7.28, silver nitrate: 95.91 +/- 7.11, garlic hydro-alcoholic extract: 59.82 +/- 21.48, garlic simple extract: 40.91 +/- 18.1, and of saline: 16.01 +/- 6.25. The protoscolecidal activity increased by the time of exposure. Results of this study showed that chloroform extract of garlic with 200 mg/ml concentration have the highest and simple extract of garlic have the lowest protoscolecidal activity.