title: In Vitro Scolicidal Effects of Salvadora persica Root Extract against Protoscolices of Echinococcus granulosus.
abstract: It has been known that Arak, Salvadora persica, has a number of medicinal properties. We tried to investigate in vitro scolicidal effect of root extracts of this plant against protoscolices from hydatid cysts of Echinococcus granulosus. Protoscolices were aseptically collected from sheep livers containing hydatid cysts. S. persica root extract was used in 10, 30, and 50 mg/ml concentration for 10, 20, and 30 min. The viability of protoscolices was ascertained by 0.1% eosin staining. Scolicidal activity of S. persica extract at a concentration of 10 mg/ml was 36.3%, 50.3%, and 70.8% after 10, 20, and 30 min of exposure, respectively. The scolicidal effect of this extract at a concentration of 30 mg/ml was 52.9%, 86.7%, and 100% after 10, 20, and 30 min of exposure, respectively. S. persica extract at a concentration of 50 mg/ml, meanwhile, killed 81.4%, 100%, and 100% of protoscolices after 10, 20, and 30 min, respectively. Also, the cytotoxic potential of S. persica was assessed on human liver cells (HepG2) using trypan blue exclusion test. No cytotoxic effect was observed on HepG2 cell line. The present study confirmed for the first time that the ethanolic extract of S. persica has high scolicidal power in vitro. However, in vivo effect of this material remains to be studied for treatment of echinococcosis in humans and herbivorous animals.
authors.affiliation: Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia ; Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt.
authors.forename: Abdel-Azeem S
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Abdel-Baki
authors.affiliation: Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia ; Department of Medical Laboratory, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Majmaah University, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Esam
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Almalki
authors.affiliation: Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia ; Unité de Recherche de Biologie intégrative et Ecologie évolutive et Fonctionnelle des Milieux Aquatiques, Département de Biologie, Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, Université De Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Lamjed
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mansour
authors.affiliation: Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Saleh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al-Quarishy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D048209:Echinococcus granulosus / Q000187:drug effects*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D032121:Salvadoraceae / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D000431:Ethanol
keywords: Arak; Echinococcus granulosus; cytotoxicity; hydatidosis; liver; scolicidal agent; sheep