Evaluation of Antischistosomal Activities of Crude Aqueous Extracts of Artemisia annua, Nigella sativa, and Allium sativum against Schistosoma mansoni in Hamsters

Abstract

Schistosomiasis is a neglected disease, as the World Health Organization classified it in the second category after malaria. World Health Organization approved praziquantel (PZQ) as the only chemotherapy to treat schistosomiasis. Over the years, some problems have arisen with PZQ, as it showed poor efficacy in the early stages of infection as well as the emergence of some resistance to it. In searching for new alternative drugs to treat schistosomiasis, the researchers intensified their efforts to find a new drug. The present study focuses on evaluating the effect of three plant extracts Artemisia annua, Nigella sativa, and Allium sativum at different doses of 31.25, 62.5, 125, 250, and, 500 μg/ml; in vitro study was accomplished on the Schistosoma mansoni adult worms. The results declared that the concentration of 500, 250, and 125 of Artemisia annua was more effective on adult worms, and the same concentrations of Nigella sativa and Allium sativum gave less effect on the adult worms than the previous plant. In vivo study was accomplished on the hamster's tissue after exposing it to doses of the plants' extracts with different concentrations; it showed the presence of calcifications and damage to the worm eggs in the liver and spleen, as well as reducing the size of granulomas. After conducting many confirmatory studies Artemisia annua extract can be used as an effective and safe treatment for Schistosoma disease.

Figure 1

Statistical analysis of the effect of Artemisia annua leaf aqueous extract with different concentrations and different times on the adult worms of S. Mansoni: (a) Conc. 500, (b) Conc. 250, (c) Conc. 125, (d) Conc. 62.5, and (e) Conc. 31.25 μg/ml.

Figure 2

Statistical analysis of the effect of Nigella sativa leaves aqueous extract with different concentrations and different times on the adult worms of S. Mansoni: (a) Conc. 500, (b) Conc. 250, (c) Conc. 125, (d) Conc. 62.5, and (e) Conc. 31.25 μg/ml.

Figure 3

Statistical analysis of the effect of Allium sativum leaf aqueous extract with different concentrations and different times on the adult worms of S. Mansoni: (a) Conc. 500, (b) Conc. 250, (c) Conc. 125, (d) Conc. 62.5, and (e) Conc. 31.25 μg/ml.

Figure 4

(a) S. mansoni normal tegument from the hamster tissue. (b, c) Effect PZQ on adult worms of Schistosoma.

Figure 5

Effect of different concentrations of Artemisia annua on the tegument of S. mansoni by SEM. (a) Sucker destroyed (red arrows). (b–e) Male dorsal surface revealing tegumental peeling with damage and peeling of spines and tubercles (blue arrows).

Figure 6

Effect of different concentrations of Nigella sativa on the tegument of S. mansoni by SEM. (a) Sucker destroyed (red arrow). (b–e) Male dorsal surface revealing tegumental peeling with damage and peeling of spines and tubercles (blue arrows).

Figure 7

Effect of different concentrations of Allium sativum on the tegument of S. mansoni by SEM. (a) Sucker destroyed (red arrow). (b–e) Male dorsal surface revealing tegumental peeling with damage and peeling of spines and tubercles (blue arrows).

Figure 8

Histological section of the healthy control (negative control) and infected (untreated control) (hematoxylin and eosin staining). (a) Normal cortical structure of kidney control (×200). (b) Normal hepatic lobular structure of liver control (×200). (c) Normal structure of spleen control (×100). (d) Ova of Schistosoma surrounded by lymphoepithelioid tissue reaction, aggregate of deposited in the spleen (×400). (e) Multiple egg granulomas in the liver; a worm affects inside a portal vein (×400).

Figure 9

Histological section of treated group with 400 mg/kg Artemisia annua. H&E staining. (a) Inside the hepatic portal vein showing worm, radical with moderate inflammatory changes within the hepatic lobule. (b) Focal necrosis and dense inflammatory cellular reaction in liver showing enclosed intralobular ova. (c) In the spleen showing some ova surrounded by an inflammatory cellular reaction (×200).

Figure 10

Histological section of treated group with 600 mg/kg Nigella sativa. H&E staining. (a) In the liver several lymphoepithelioid granulomas. (b) In the liver merged ova granulomas (×400). (c) In the spleen several degenerated egg and fresh deposited (×200).

Figure 11

Histological section of treated group with 600 mg/kg Allium satvium. H&E staining. (a) (×200) and (b) in the liver, mononuclear inflammatory cells contained degenerated ova with mild infiltration of the hepatic lobule (×100). (c) In spleen, lymphoepithelioid cellular inflammatory cellular infiltration contained some degenerated ova (×100).