The controverted therapeutic efficacy of Allium sativum and Artemisia herba-alba extracts on Cryptosporidium-infected mice

Authors

  • Enas Said Elbahaie Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3439-9369
  • Reda Lamei El Gamal Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4286-7158
  • Ghada Mahmoud Fathy Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
  • Asmaa Mohammed Farouk Al-Ghandour Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
  • Nadia El-Akabawy Department of Medical Histology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
  • Basma Hosny Abd El Hameed Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
  • Samah Hassan Yahia Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.17360

Keywords:

Cryptosporidium, garlic, artemisia, nitazoxanide, IFN-ɣ, TEM

Abstract

Introduction: Cryptosporidiosis has become an issue of great interest being life-threatening among immunocompromised hosts worldwide. This study explored the curative effect of Allium sativum (garlic) and Artemisia herba-alba ethanolic extract versus Nitazoxanide drug on both immunocompetent and immunosuppressed-Cryptosporidium experimentally-infected mice.

Methodology: One hundred male Swiss albino mice were divided into the following groups: (GI) non-infected non-treated group, (GII) infected non-treated group, (GIII) garlic treated group, (GIV) A. herba-alba treated group, (GV) Nitazoxanide treated group, each group subdivided into two subgroups (a) Immunocompetent, (b) immunosuppressed. The assessment was performed by parasitological counting of fecal oocysts, histological examination of intestinal tissue, immunological detection of interferon-gamma levels in mice sera, and ultrastructural study by transmission electron microscopy.

Results: Garlic and A. herbal-alba extracts showed a decrease in the mean oocyst counts through all days of follow-up. This was associated with significant up-regulation of interferon-gamma cytokine levels in serum and histological improvement in intestinal tissues of mice compared to control groups and the results were confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. The highest efficacy was obtained by garlic, then by A. herbal-alba extracts followed by Nitazoxanide treated group; where the immunocompetent groups showed better improvement than immunosuppressed ones.

Conclusions: Garlic has a perfect effect as a promising therapeutic agent against Cryptosporidiosis and therefore validates their traditional use in parasitic infections. Accordingly, it may offer a good option for cryptosporidium treatment in immunocompromised patients. They could be used as a natural safe product for the preparation of a new therapeutic agent.

Author Biographies

Reda Lamei El Gamal, Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

Medical parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University

Ghada Mahmoud Fathy, Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

Medical parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University

Asmaa Mohammed Farouk Al-Ghandour, Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

Medical parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University

Nadia El-Akabawy, Department of Medical Histology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

Medical parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University

Basma Hosny Abd El Hameed, Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

Medical parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University

Samah Hassan Yahia, Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

Medical parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University

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Published

2023-06-30

How to Cite

1.
Elbahaie ES, El Gamal RL, Fathy GM, Al-Ghandour AMF, El-Akabawy N, Abd El Hameed BH, Yahia SH (2023) The controverted therapeutic efficacy of Allium sativum and Artemisia herba-alba extracts on Cryptosporidium-infected mice. J Infect Dev Ctries 17:732–743. doi: 10.3855/jidc.17360

Issue

Vol. 17 No. 06: June 2023

Section

Emerging Problems in Infectious Diseases

License

Copyright (c) 2023 Enas Elbahaie, Reda Lamei El gamal, Ghada Mahmoud Fathy, Asmaa Mohammed Farouk Al-Ghandour, Nadia El- Akabawy, Basma Hosny Abd El hameed, Samah Hassan Yahia

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