Investigating the Lethal Effects of Carvone on the Protoscoleces of Hydatid Cyst, In Vitro and Ex Vivo.

Abstract

Background: Medicinal plants and their derivatives due to having high availability, low cost, low toxicity, and high efficacy are recognized as significant reservoirs of a diverse array of valuable therapeutic compounds. We aimed to investigate the lethal effects of carvone (CV) on protoscoleces of hydatid cyst, in laboratory and ex vivo conditions.

Methods: The protoscolicidal effects of CV were investigated both in vitro and ex vivo on hydatid cyst protoscoleces using the eosin exclusion assay. Furthermore, the impact of CV on the induction of apoptosis and DNA damage in the protoscoleces was assessed through a colorimetric protease assay and Real-time PCR analysis, respectively.

Results: CV, particularly at a concentration of 150 μg/ml, effectively eradicated protoscoleces of hydatid cysts within a 20-minute exposure period. Furthermore, CV exhibited sustained anti-parasitic effects in the ex vivo, leading to the complete elimination of hydatid cyst protoscoleces after a 30-minute exposure, in contrast to its immediate lethal effects observed in vitro. CV concentrations of 1/3 IC₅₀, 1/2 IC₅₀, and IC₅₀ (P < 0.001) resulted in caspase-3 activation levels of 11.3%, 19.8%, and 28.4%, respectively. The expression levels of the EgATM and EgP53 genes significantly upregulated after treatment with CV (P<0.001).

Conclusion: The findings demonstrated the potential of CV to eliminate protoscoleces by inducing apoptosis and causing DNA damage. However, further studies are required to clarify the specific mechanisms underlying its action and to assess its efficacy in clinical trials, which may facilitate the application of CV in the context of hydatid cyst surgical procedures.