Effectiveness Evaluation of Leaves Nerium oleander Extract on the Viability of Protoscolices: In vitro

Background: Echinococcus granulosus is a type of taeniid tapeworm, present in the small intestine of its primary hosts, including dogs and occasionally in other carnivores. The larval stage of E. granulosus causes cystic hydatidosis in humans and livestock. Although most hydatid cysts are found in the liver and lungs, the disease can occur anywhere in the body. Therefore, Hydatidosis remains a problem and causes significant economic losses in animals. Methods: A study was performed to evaluate the activity of the leaves Nerium oleander extract on the viability of protoscolices. We used three graduated concentrations of extract (10, 30 and 50 mg/ml). 2 ml of the protoscolices suspension (containing at least 2700 protoscolices) was placed in test tubes using a Pasteur pipette. Then, 2 ml of various concentrations of the Nerium oleander extract were added to each test tube and mixed gently, incubated at 37°C for 5, 10, 20 and 30 min. One control group was kept that contain normal saline. The viability of protoscolices was evaluated by eosin method where, protoscolices suspension was mixed with 0.1% eosin for 5 minutes. The dead protoscolices absorb eosin and becomes red, whereas the live protoscolices remains colorless. Before drawing the conclusion, each experiment was performed thrice. Result: The analysis of phytochemicals by FT-IR for alcoholic extracts of Nerium oleander extracts revealed the presence of 12 effective chemical ingredients. Nerium oleander extract showed the strongest scolicidal effect (85.6, 92.3%) after 20 and 30 min at a concentration of 50 mg/ml, respectively moderately (69.3%) after 30 min at 30 mg/ml and lowest (41.9%) after 30 min at 10 mg/ml. Microscopic examinations of dead protoscolices showed distortion of their morphology and degenerative effects. These effects were characterized by loss of hooks, or presence of free hooks and dissolution and rupture of the protoscolices wall. It can be concluded from this study that ethanol extract of Nerium oleander is effective against Protoscolies in vitro.