Evaluation of the In Vitro Antiparasitic Effect of the Essential Oil of Cymbopogon winterianus and Its Chemical Composition Analysis.

Cymbopogon winterianus, known as "citronella grass", is an important aromatic and medicinal tropical herbaceous plant. The essential oil of C. winterianus (EOCw) is popularly used to play an important role in improving human health due to its potential as a bioactive component. The present study aimed to identify the components of the essential oil of C. winterianus and verify its leishmanicidal and trypanocidal potential, as well as the cytotoxicity in mammalian cells, in vitro. The EOCw had geraniol (42.13%), citronellal (17.31%), and citronellol (16.91%) as major constituents. The essential oil only exhibited significant cytotoxicity in mammalian fibroblasts at concentrations greater than 250 µg/mL, while regarding antipromastigote and antiepimastigote activities, they presented values considered clinically relevant, since both had LC50 < 62.5 µg/mL. It can be concluded that this is a pioneer study on the potential of the essential oil of C. winterianus and its use against the parasites T. cruzi and L. brasiliensis, and its importance is also based on this fact. Additionally, according to the results, C. winterianus was effective in presenting values of clinical relevance and low toxicity and, therefore, an indicator of popular use.

Diagnosis of Primary Hydatid Cyst of Thyroid Gland: A Case Report.

A 34-year-old female patient was presented to the general surgery clinic of the hospital complaining of a growing tangible swelling in her neck. In physical examination, the patient had two palpable soft nodules in the left lobe of the thyroid which hadn't invaded the surrounding tissues. The function of thyroid gland was normal and fine needle aspiration (FNA) result reported it benign. The patient went through a left lobectomy and isthmectomy. The histopathology report concluded a nodular hyperplasia and a Hydatid cyst. After surgery, the patient was examined searching for any other organs cyst, but there were no cystic lesion in the cranial, thoracic and abdominal cavities. Accordingly, the case was a primary thyroid hydatid cyst, which is rare, even in endemic regions like Iran.