Silymarin treatment reduces granuloma and hepatic fibrosis in experimental schistosomiasis.
The schistosomiasis is a parasitic infection with relevant social impact and an important health problem in many countries around world. The pathology of this infection is characterized by a granulomatous reaction around parasite eggs and by hepatic fibrosis. Silymarin, a complex compound isolated from Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertner, have been described as hepatoprotective, antioxidant, antifibrotic, immunomodulator, and anti-neoplastic agent. Some of these capacities could potentially protect against pathology in schistosomiasis. Herein, we evaluated the effects of silymarin on parasite burden, granuloma sizes, and liver fibrosis, which are associated with severity and morbidity of this disease. BALB/c mice treated intraperitoneally with 10, 20, or 25 doses of silymarin (10 mg kg(-1)) suspended in carboxymethylcellulose were analyzed at 55 days post-infection. Silymarin (1) did not affect parasite oviposition capacity; (2) reduced granulomatous peri-ovular reaction in the liver, and (3) decreased hepatic fibrosis in this infection. Taken together, these data suggest that treatment with silymarin at acute phase of schistosomiasis may result in a mild course of murine schistosomiasis and can be a promising complementary treatment reverting sequelae of this infection.
Mata-Santos
Hílton Antonio
HA
Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), CCS, Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 21949-900, Brazil.
Lino
Fabiana Gonçalves
FG
Rocha
Carolina Carneiro
CC
Paiva
Claudia Neto
CN
Castelo Branco
Morgana Teixeira Lima
MT
Pyrrho
Alexandre dos Santos
Ados S
D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006099:Granuloma / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012838:Silymarin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000871:Anthelmintics; D012838:Silymarin