title: In vitro and ex vivo activity of Melaleuca alternifolia against protoscoleces of Echinococcus ortleppi.
abstract: Cystic echinococcosis is a zoonotic disease of difficult diagnosis and treatment. The use of protoscolicidal agents in procedures is of utmost importance for treatment success. This study was aimed at analysing the in vitro and ex vivo activity of Melaleuca alternifolia oil (tea tree oil - TTO), its nanoemulsion formulation (NE-TTO) and its major component (terpinen-4-ol) against Echinococcus ortleppi protoscoleces obtained from cattle. Concentrations of 2·5, 5 and 10 mg mL-1 of TTO, 10 mg mL-1 of NE-TTO and 1, 1·5 and 2 mg mL-1 of terpinen-4-ol were evaluated in vitro against protoscoleces at 5, 10, 15 and 30 min. TTO was also injected directly into hydatid cysts (ex vivo analysis, n = 20) and the viability of protoscoleces was evaluated at 5, 15 and 30 min. The results indicated protoscolicidal effect at all tested formulations and concentrations. Terpinen-4-ol (2 mg mL-1) activity was superior when compared with the highest concentration of TTO. NE-TTO reached a gradual protoscolicidal effect. TTO at 20 mg mL-1 showed 90% protoscolicidal action in hydatid cysts at 5 min. The results showed that TTO affects the viability of E. ortleppi protoscoleces, suggesting a new protoscolicidal option to the treatment of cystic equinococcosis.
authors.affiliation: Postgraduation Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, UFSM,Santa Maria,Brazil.
authors.forename: Danieli Urach
authors.initials: DU
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial Pharmacy,Postgraduation Program in Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, UFSM,Santa Maria,Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Isabel
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Azevedo
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial Pharmacy,Postgraduation Program in Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, UFSM,Santa Maria,Brazil.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Weiblen
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial Pharmacy,Postgraduation Program in Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, UFSM,Santa Maria,Brazil.
authors.forename: Sônia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: DE Avila Botton
authors.affiliation: Postgraduation Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, UFSM,Santa Maria,Brazil.
authors.forename: Nadine Lysyk
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Funk
authors.affiliation: Postgraduation Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, UFSM,Santa Maria,Brazil.
authors.forename: Cristiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: DE Bona DA Silva
authors.affiliation: Postgraduation Program in Biological Sciences: Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul,Porto Alegre,Brazil.
authors.forename: Régis Adriel
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Zanette
authors.affiliation: Postgraduation Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, UFSM,Santa Maria,Brazil.
authors.forename: Thiago Guilherme
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Schwanz
authors.affiliation: Postgraduation Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, UFSM,Santa Maria,Brazil.
authors.forename: Mário Luiz
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: DE LA Rue
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004446:Echinococcus / Q000187:drug effects*; D031650:Melaleuca; D020947:Tea Tree Oil / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D020947:Tea Tree Oil
keywords: 
                 Echinococcus ortleppi
              ; nanoemulsions; protoscolicidal; tea tree oil