title: Efficacy of Myrtus communis L. to Inactivate the Hydatid Cyst Protoscoleces.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study aims to investigate the scolicidal effects of Myrtus communis L. essential oil against protoscoleces of hydatid cysts and also its toxicity in mice model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Protoscoleces were aseptically aspirated from sheep livers having hydatid cysts. Various concentrations of the essential oil (12.5-100 μl/ml) were used for 5-30 min. Viability of protoscoleces was confirmed using eosin exclusion test (0.1% eosin staining). Moreover, 48 male NMRI mice were used to determine the acute and sub-acute toxicity of M. communis essential oil. One-way ANOVA with Tukey's post-hoc test was used to assess differences between experimental groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Findings of the present study demonstrated that the M. communis essential oil at the concentration of 100 μl/ml after 5 min of exposure killed 100% protoscoleces. Similarly, the mean mortality rate of protoscoleces after 10 min of exposure to concentration of 50 μl/ml was 100%. However, lower concentrations (12.5 and 25 μl/ml) of M. communis essential oil provoked a delayed protoscolicidal effects. The LD50 values of intraperitoneal injection of the M. communis essential oil was 2.23 mL/kg body wt. No significant difference (p > .05) was observed in the clinical chemistry and hematological parameters following oral administrations of M. communis essential oil at the doses 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.4 mL/kg for 14 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results showed potent scolicidal activity of M. communis with no significant toxicity, which might be used as a natural scolicidal agent in hydatid cyst surgery.
authors.affiliation: a Razi Herbal Medicines Research Center , Lorestan University of Medical Sciences , Khorramabad , Islamic Republic of Iran.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mahmoudvand
authors.affiliation: b Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine , Lorestan University of Medical Sciences , Khorramabad , Islamic Republic of Iran.
authors.forename: Shirzad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fallahi
authors.affiliation: c Department of Surgery , Lorestan University of Medical Sciences , Khorramabad , Islamic Republic of Iran.
authors.forename: Hormoz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mahmoudvand
authors.affiliation: d Pharmaceutics Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology , Kerman University of Medical Sciences , Kerman , Islamic Republic Iran.
authors.forename: Mojtaba
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shakibaie
authors.affiliation: e Research Center for Hydatid Disease in Iran , University of Medical Sciences , Kerman , Islamic Republic of Iran.
authors.forename: Majid Fasihi
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Harandi
authors.affiliation: f Herbal and Traditional Medicines Research Center , Kerman University of Medical Sciences , Kerman , Islamic Republic of Iran.
authors.forename: Ebrahim Saedi
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Dezaki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D021461:Animals, Outbred Strains; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D004446:Echinococcus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D006801:Humans; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D031651:Myrtus / Q000737:chemistry*; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012756:Sheep
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010938:Plant Oils
keywords: cystic echinococcosis; hydatid cyst; myrtle; scolicidal effects; toxicity