Extracts of food and medicinal plants sold in Moroccan markets induce apoptosis-like in Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites in vitro

Abstract

Congenital toxoplasmosis in Morocco, and other middle-income countries, remains challenging due to high cost and potential toxicity of existing treatment, limiting their widespread application. This highlights the urgent need for affordable, safe and accessible alternatives. Plants used in traditional medicine and purchased in markets are good candidates. Aqueous extract of Ammi visnaga seeds had no inhibitory effect against T. gondii tachyzoites in vitro (50% inhibitory concentration, IC₅₀ = 679.6 ± 243.6 µg/mL) and induced a cytotoxic effect on host cells (50% cytotoxic concentration, CC₅₀ = 313.3 ± 357.6 µg/mL). Ethanolic extract of A. visnaga seeds showed anti-Toxoplasma effect (IC₅₀ = 192.3 ± 70.2 µg/mL) with low cytotoxicity (CC₅₀ = 515.9 ± 312.0 µg/mL), indicating that different compounds were extracted. Aqueous extracts of Punica granatum peel and Syzygium aromaticum flower buds showed anti-Toxoplasma effect (IC₅₀ = 413.5 ± 271.4 and 473.5 ± 196.0 µg/mL, respectively) with low cytotoxicity (CC₅₀ = 1007.4 ± 286.3 and 985.6 ± 388.6 µg/mL, respectively). All extracts, particularly of A. visnaga, induced apoptosis-like in tachyzoites, characterized by phosphatidylserine exposure and DNA fragmentation. Finally, the aqueous extracts of A. visnaga seeds, P. granatum peel and S. aromaticum flower buds exhibited antioxidant properties. The observed effects are likely due to coumarins and sterols (A. visnaga aqueous extract), saponins (A. visnaga ethanolic extract), gallic tannins (P. granatum extract), and phenols (S. aromaticum extract). P. granatum peel show promise as potential preclinical candidates for the toxoplasmosis treatment, warranting further investigation into its potential for safe and effective therapeutic use.