Anticryptosporidium Efficacy of Olea europaea and Ficus carica Leaves Extract in Immunocompromised Mice Associated with Biochemical Characters and Antioxidative System

Abstract

Cryptosporidiosis is caused by an opportunistic protozoan parasite (Cryptosporidium parvum and C. hominis) known as a parasite of humans, especially children and immunocompromised patients. The current study was designed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of a mixture of fig and olive leaf extracts as an alternative medicinal plant. Parasitological examination for oocysts in the stool and histopathological alterations in the small intestines were examined. Additionally, biochemical analyses of liver and kidney functions in addition to antioxidant parameters such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH) and catalase (CAT) in the plasma were evaluated. Our results showed that marked reduction in oocysts shedding and amelioration in intestinal histopathological changes and hepatic or renal functions were detected in all treated groups compared to the control infected group. Additionally, the treated groups with tested extracts at ratios 1:3 and 1:5 showed a significant decrease in the number of oocysts compared to the other treated groups. Results exhibited a significant increase in the plasma SOD, CAT and GSH levels in treated groups compared to the infected control one. This study suggested that a mixture of fig and olive leaf extracts is a convenient promising therapeutic agent for Cryptosporidiosis.

Keywords: cryptosporidiosis; enzymes activity; fig and olive leave extracts; nitazoxanide; oocyst; oxidative stress.

Figure 1

Flow chart of experimental design.

Figure 2

Cryptosporidium oocysts in the stool Modified Ziehl–Neelsen stain (MZN stain X1000). The black arrow referred to Cryptosporidium oocysts.

Figure 3

The changes in the intestinal sections of different experimental groups (H&E at high power view × 400): GI; (Negative control): showing average villi/crypt ratio and villi composed of connective tissue core (black arrow) covered by tall columnar epithelial cells (blue arrow) with intact brush border (red arrow), and average crypts (green arrow), GII (Positive control); showing very short and thin villi with loss of epithelial covering (black arrow), excess oocysts in superficial mucosa (red arrow) with mild interstitial (blue arrow) and submucosal inflammatory infiltrate with scattered eosinophils (green arrow), and markedly elongated crypts (yellow arrow), GIII (Drug-treated); showing relatively short villi (black arrow), scattered oocysts in the crypts (red arrows) with mild intra-villous (blue arrow) and submucosal inflammatory infiltrate with scattered eosinophils (green arrow), and relatively elongated crypts (yellow arrow), GIV (tested extract ratio 1:1); showing broad villi (black arrow), scattered oocysts in the crypts (red arrows) with mild intra-villous inflammatory infiltrate (blue arrow), GV (tested extract ratio 1:3); showing relatively short broad villi (black arrow), scattered oocysts in superficial mucosa (red arrows) with mild intra-villous (blue arrow) and interstitial inflammatory infiltrate (green arrow), GVI (tested extract ratio 1:5); showing relatively short broad villi with partially necrotic tip (black arrow), excess oocysts in the crypts (red arrow) with marked intra-villous (blue arrow) and interstitial inflammatory infiltrate (green arrow), and relatively elongated crypts (yellow arrow), GVII (tested extract ratio 1:7); showing scattered oocysts in the crypts (red arrows) with marked interstitial (black arrow) and mild submucosal inflammatory infiltrate with scattered eosinophils (blue arrow).