Efficacy of Zingiber officinale and Cinnamomum zeylanicum extracts against experimental Trichinella spiralis infection.

Trichinellosis is a re-emerging zoonotic disease that has become a public health concern since its reported human outbreaks in many countries. The traditional therapy has many adverse effects in addition to the developing resistance. So, this necessitates finding effective natural alternatives. The current study targeted to assess the potential therapeutic effects of Zingiber officinale and Cinnamomum zeylanicum in comparison to albendazole, a conventional therapy for treatment of trichinosis. Sixty mice were classified into five groups (12 mice each), non-infected control, infected control, combined albendazole and prednisolone, Zingiber officinale, and Cinnamomum zeylanicum treated groups. Mice sacrifice was performed on the 7th and 35th days post infection for intestinal and muscular phases respectively. Efficiency of the used preparations was assessed by parasitological, histopathological, immunohistochemical, biochemical studies in addition to ultrastructural evaluation using transmission electron microscopy. A significant reduction in the mean number of T. spiralis adult worms and larvae was observed in Zingiber officinale and Cinnamomum zeylanicum treated groups, (64.5%, 50.8%) and (68%, 54.6%) respectively. Also, both extracts showed moderate cytoplasmic reactivity for TGF-ß1, (69.3% & 67.8%) respectively. The highest reduction in serum TNF- α level was observed in Zingiber officinale treated group during the muscle phase (58.4%) while in the intestinal phase was 50%. The ultrastructural study revealed degenerative effects on both adults and larvae in addition to obvious improvement of the histopathological changes in the small intestine and muscles. We concluded that these herbal extracts especially Zingiber officinale can be considered a practical and successful alternative for the treatment of trichinellosis.

Assessment of chitosan nanoparticles in improving the efficacy of nitazoxanide on cryptosporidiosis in immunosuppressed and immunocompetent murine models.

Cryptosporidiosis is one of the major causes of diarrhea in immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients. It is self-limited in immunocompetent individuals. However, in the immunocompromised it can cause life-threatening diarrhea and results in chronic malabsorption of fluids, vitamins and electrolytes resulting in wasting. Our study is concerned with assessing and comparing the efficacy of nitazoxanide (NTZ) alone and NTZ loaded chitosan nanoparticles (NTZ loaded CS NPs) in the treatment of experimental cryptosporidiosis using parasitological and histopathological parameters. One hundred mice were divided into 5 groups (20 mice each). Each group was divided into 2 subgroups according to the immune status [a-immunocompetent, b-immunosuppressed]. group 1: control (healthy), group 2: control infected by Cryptosporidium oocysts, group 3: infected treated by NTZ, group 4: infected then treated by NTZ loaded CS NPs and group 5: infected then treated by chitosan nanoparticles (CS NPs) alone. Treatment of Cryptosporidium infected mice with NTZ loaded on CS NPs resulted in the highest significant reduction in oocysts shedding in both immunocompetent and immunosuppressed groups followed by treatment with NTZ form then by treatment with CS NPs alone. The treatment with NTZ loaded CS NPs displayed a remarkable improvement of the histopathological changes of the intestine, liver and lung while NTZ treated group showed some improvement. Treatment with NTZ loaded CS NPs in murine cryptosporidiosis gave the best results as it caused marked reduction in fecal oocysts counts and improvement of histopathological changes in immunocompetent and immunosuppressed groups.

Capsicum frutescens and Citrus limon: a new take on therapy against experimental trichinellosis.

Trichinellosis is a zoonotic disease that endangers human health and can lead to death. Restricted absorption and poor results of conventional therapies demand new effective natural remedies to treat both enteral and parenteral trichinellosis. This study assessed the antiparasitic and anti-inflammatory effects of Citrus limon and Capsicum frutescens on murine trichinellosis and compared them with those of albendazole and prednisolone, which are conventionally used to treat trichinellosis. Overall, 50 Swiss albino male mice were divided into five groups, with ten mice in each group: negative control, positive control, albendazole combined with prednisolone, C. limon, and C. frutescens. Mice were sacrificed 7 and 35 days after infection, for intestinal and muscular phase analyses. Drug efficacies were parasitologically, biochemically, histopathologically and ultrastructurally assessed. Our results demonstrated the efficacy of C. frutescens and C. limon extracts as antiparasitic agents, showing a substantial decrease in adult and larval counts. Moreover, both extracts had the ability to decrease serum tumour necrosis factor-α levels during the intestinal and muscular phases. In addition to the improved histopathological changes in the small intestine and muscles, the destructive effects on adults and larvae were ultrastructurally evident on transmission electron microscopy. In conclusion, C. frutescens and C. limon extracts are promising remedies for the treatment of experimental trichinellosis, particularly, the C. frutescens extract.