Laboratory of Applied Pediatric Surgery, CHU of Setif, Ferhat Abbas University, Setif 1, Setif, Algeria.
Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, Ferhat Abbas University, Setif 1, Setif, Algeria.
Acta Parasitol. 2024 Mar;69(1):839-853. doi: 10.1007/s11686-024-00808-z. Epub 2024 Mar 4.
During cystic echinococcosis surgery, the use of scolicidal agents such as hypertonic saline (20%) aims to reduce the risk of infection recurrence, but most of the used agents are associated with undesirable side effects. Therefore, the use of natural scolicidal agents such as medicinal plant extracts could reduce these medical issues. The present study aimed to compare in vitro the scolicidal activity between two extracts of the medicinal plant Myrtus communis from Algeria against Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato protoscoleces.
The ethanolic and aqueous extraction of plant leaves was performed. Phytochemical analysis by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS), determination of total phenolic and flavonoid contents, and in vitro antioxidant activity by DPPH were evaluated for both extracts. Finally, the in vitro scolicidal activity was tested by different concentrations. The viability was evaluated by the eosin exclusion test.
The phytochemical analysis revealed 28 components for the ethanolic extract and 44 components for the aqueous extract. The major components were 2'-hydroxy-5'-methoxyacetophenone and 4-amino-2-methylphenol, respectively. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were 45.9 ± 0.085 mg of gallic acid equivalent per g of extract (GAE/g E) and 16.5 ± 0.004 mg of quercetin equivalent per g (QE/g E) for the ethanolic extract, and 36.5 ± 0.016 mg GAE/g E and 18.2 ± 0.023 mg QE/g E for the aqueous extract, respectively. Furthermore, ethanolic and aqueous extracts of M. communis gave a value of IC = 0.009 ± 0.0004 mg/ml and IC = 0.012 ± 0.0003 mg/ml for the antioxidant activity, respectively. The in vitro scolicidal activity with concentrations of 50, 75, 100, and 150 mg/ml was tested for 5, 10, 15, and 30 min, and 5, 10, 15, 30, 60, 90, and 120 min for ethanolic and aqueous extracts, respectively. The mortality rate of protoscoleces at concentrations of 100 and 150 mg/ml was 98.8 and 100%, respectively, after 5 min of exposure to the ethanolic extract, while this rate was 100% at the same concentrations only after 60 min of exposure to the aqueous extract.
The ethanolic extract showed a stronger scolicidal activity against E. granulosus s.l protoscoleces than the aqueous extract. In the future, other investigations are necessary to elucidate the mechanism of action and the possible toxicity on human cells. Moreover, experimental animal studies are required to investigate the efficacy of different extracts of this plant and its components as natural anti-parasitic alternatives for the treatment of human cystic echinococcosis.
在囊型包虫病手术中，使用杀囊剂（如 20%高渗盐水）旨在降低感染复发的风险，但大多数使用的杀囊剂都伴有不良副作用。因此，使用天然杀囊剂（如药用植物提取物）可以减少这些医学问题。本研究旨在比较来自阿尔及利亚的桃金娘科植物 Myrtus communis 的两种提取物对细粒棘球蚴原头节的体外杀囊活性。
进行了植物叶片的乙醇和水提取。通过气相色谱-串联质谱（GC-MS/MS）进行植物化学成分分析，测定总酚和类黄酮含量，并通过 DPPH 评估体外抗氧化活性。最后，通过不同浓度测试了体外杀囊活性。通过伊红排斥试验评估了活力。
植物化学成分分析显示，乙醇提取物中有 28 种成分，水提取物中有 44 种成分。主要成分分别为 2'-羟基-5'-甲氧基苯乙酮和 4-氨基-2-甲基苯酚。乙醇提取物中总酚和类黄酮含量分别为 45.9±0.085mg 没食子酸当量/克提取物（GAE/g E）和 16.5±0.004mg 槲皮素当量/克提取物（QE/g E），水提取物中分别为 36.5±0.016mg GAE/g E 和 18.2±0.023mg QE/g E。此外，M. communis 的乙醇和水提取物的 IC 值分别为 0.009±0.0004mg/ml 和 0.012±0.0003mg/ml，表明具有抗氧化活性。在浓度为 50、75、100 和 150mg/ml 下，测试了 5、10、15 和 30min，以及 5、10、15、30、60、90 和 120min 的乙醇和水提取物的体外杀囊活性。在浓度为 100 和 150mg/ml 时，乙醇提取物在暴露 5min 后原头节的死亡率为 98.8%和 100%，而在暴露 60min 后，水提取物的死亡率仅为 100%。
乙醇提取物对细粒棘球蚴原头节的杀囊活性强于水提取物。未来，有必要进行其他研究以阐明其对人类细胞的作用机制和可能的毒性。此外，还需要进行实验动物研究，以研究这种植物及其成分作为天然抗寄生虫替代品治疗人类包虫病的疗效。
