Immunological and parasitological parameters in Schistosoma mansoni-infected mice treated with crude extract from the leaves of Mentha x piperita L.
Schistosomiasis is a chronic disease caused by an intravascular trematode of the genus Schistosoma. Praziquantel is the drug used for treatment of schistosomiasis; nevertheless failure of treatment has been reported. Consequently, the identification of new effective schistosomicidal compounds is essential to ensure the effective control of schistosomiasis in the future. In this work we investigated the immunomodulatory and antiparasitic effects of the crude leaves extract of Mentha x piperita L. (peppermint) on murine Schistosomiasis mansoni. Female Balb/c mice were infected each with 50 S. mansoni cercariae and divided into three experimental groups: (I) untreated; (II) treated daily with M. x piperita L. (100mg/kg) and III) treated on 1/42/43 days post-infection with Praziquantel (500mg/kg). Another group with uninfected and untreated mice was used as a control. Subsequently, seven weeks post-infection, S. mansoni eggs were counted in the feces, liver and intestine. Worms were recovered by perfusion of the hepatic portal system and counted. Sera levels of IL-10, IL-5, IL-13, IFN-γ, IgG1, IgE and IgG2a were assayed by ELISA. Animals treated with a daily dose of M. x piperita L. showed increased sera levels of IL-10, IFN-γ, IgG2a and IgE. Besides, M. x piperita L. treatment promoted reduction in parasite burden by 35.2% and significant decrease in egg counts in the feces and intestine.
Departamento de Morfologia e Patologia, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, 13565-905 São Carlos, SP, Brazil; Faculdade de Medicina Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, 14049-900 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
Naiara N
NN
Dejani
Departamento de Morfologia e Patologia, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, 13565-905 São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
Laís C
LC
Souza
Departamento de Morfologia e Patologia, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, 13565-905 São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
Sandra R P
SR
Oliveira
Departamento de Morfologia e Patologia, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, 13565-905 São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
Débora M
DM
Neris
Departamento de Morfologia e Patologia, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, 13565-905 São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
Joice M A
JM
Rodolpho
Departamento de Morfologia e Patologia, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, 13565-905 São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
Ricardo O
RO
Correia
Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Universidade de São Paulo, 14049-900 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
Vanderlei
V
Rodrigues
Department of Natural Products and Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista, 14801-902 Araraquara, SP, Brazil.
Luis V S
LV
Sacramento
Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Toxicológicas e Bromatológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
Lúcia H
LH
Faccioli
Departamento de Morfologia e Patologia, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, 13565-905 São Carlos, SP, Brazil; Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical da Universidade de Nova Lisboa, Unidade de Ensino e Investigação em Parasitologia Médica, Unidade de Parasitologia e Microbiologia Médica, Grupo de Helmintologia e Malacologia Médica, Rua da Junqueira, 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal.
Ana
A
Afonso
Departamento de Morfologia e Patologia, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, 13565-905 São Carlos, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: ffanibal@ufscar.br.
Fernanda F
FF
Anibal
D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000097:blood; D007422:Intestines / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000469:parasitology; D036142:Mentha piperita; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000276:immunology*; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology
D016207:Cytokines; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011223:Praziquantel
Antiparasitic; Immunomodulation; Mentha x piperita L.; Schistosoma mansoni