title: [Betamethasone and aqueous extract of Arctium lappa for treating angiostrongyliasis].
abstract: Angiostrongylus costaricensis is a parasite that causes abdominal angiostrongyliasis in humans. The treatment for it includes the use of anti-inflammatory drugs, despite the lack of studies to justify this approach. The objective of this paper was to evaluate the effect of betamethasone and Arctium lappa on the evolution of intestinal lesions induced by this parasite. Adult male Swiss mice were used, distributed into four groups: infected and treated with betamethasone; infected and treated with Arctium lappa; infected and not treated; and control group. The treatments were started on the 15th day after infection and continued for 15 days. The presence of eosinophilic infiltration and granuloma was evaluated (1-mild; 2-moderate; 3-severe). Betamethasone allowed the lesions to evolve into more severe forms, while the extract did not interfere with disease progression. The substances applied were ineffective for protection against the lesions induced by Angiostrongylus costaricensis in mice. These findings discourage the use of betamethasone and Arctium lappa for humans affected by abdominal angiostrongyliasis.
authors.affiliation: Setor de Farmacologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil. camilafante@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Camila Argenta
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Fante
authors.forename: Solange
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dieterish
authors.forename: Rubens
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D031170:Arctium / Q000737:chemistry*; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017206:Strongylida Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D001623:Betamethasone