In vivo and in vitro efficacy of crocin against Echinococcus multilocularis
Abstract Background Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a fatal zoonosis caused by the larvae of Echinococcus multilocularis. However, current chemotherapy treatment options are based on benzimidazoles [albendazole (ABZ) and mebendazole], which have limited efficacy. Therefore, novel drugs are necessary...
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doaj-e8b7cf37d8a04b178c7df21ac72440462021-07-18T11:29:46ZengBMCParasites & Vectors1756-33052021-07-0114111710.1186/s13071-021-04866-4In vivo and in vitro efficacy of crocin against Echinococcus multilocularisChuanchuan Liu0Haining Fan1Lu Guan2Ri-li Ge3Lan Ma4Qinghai University Affiliated HospitalQinghai University Affiliated HospitalResearch Center for High Altitude Medicine, Qinghai UniversityResearch Center for High Altitude Medicine, Qinghai UniversityResearch Center for High Altitude Medicine, Qinghai UniversityAbstract Background Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a fatal zoonosis caused by the larvae of Echinococcus multilocularis. However, current chemotherapy treatment options are based on benzimidazoles [albendazole (ABZ) and mebendazole], which have limited efficacy. Therefore, novel drugs are necessary for the treatment of this disease. Methods The anthelmintic effects of crocin were tested on E. multilocularis metacestodes, germinal cells and protoscoleces in vitro. Human foreskin fibroblasts (HFFs) and Reuber rat hepatoma (RH) cells were used to assess cytotoxicity. The in vivo efficacy of crocin was investigated in mice following secondary infection with E. multilocularis. Furthermore, collagen deposition and degradation in host tissues around the metacestodes were evaluated. Results In vitro, crocin had a median effective concentration of 11.36 μM against cultured E. multilocularis metacestodes, while it reduced germinal cell viability at a median inhibitory concentration of 10.05 μM. Crocin was less toxic to HFFs and RH mammalian cell lines than to metacestodes. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that crocin treatment resulted in structural damage in the germinal layer. In addition, 60.33 ± 3.06% of protoscoleces were killed by treatment with 10 μM crocin for 7 days, indicating that crocin has a parasiticidal effect. In vivo, the metacestode weight was significantly reduced after the administration of crocin at 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg (55.1 and 68.1%, respectively). Metacestode pathology showed structural disruption of the germinal and laminated layers after crocin treatment. The crocin- and ABZ-treated groups presented significant increases in the levels of interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-4. Furthermore, crocin inhibited the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) (MMP2 and MMP9) and promoted collagen deposition in the metacestode. Conclusions Crocin was demonstrated to exert parasiticidal activity against E. multilocularis in vitro and in vivo, and can be developed as a novel drug for the treatment of AE. Graphical abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-021-04866-4Echinococcus multilocularisProtoscolecesCrocinMetacestodesMatrix metalloproteinase 2Matrix metalloproteinase 9 |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Chuanchuan Liu Haining Fan Lu Guan Ri-li Ge Lan Ma |
spellingShingle |
Chuanchuan Liu Haining Fan Lu Guan Ri-li Ge Lan Ma In vivo and in vitro efficacy of crocin against Echinococcus multilocularis Parasites & Vectors Echinococcus multilocularis Protoscoleces Crocin Metacestodes Matrix metalloproteinase 2 Matrix metalloproteinase 9 |
author_facet |
Chuanchuan Liu Haining Fan Lu Guan Ri-li Ge Lan Ma |
author_sort |
Chuanchuan Liu |
title |
In vivo and in vitro efficacy of crocin against Echinococcus multilocularis |
title_short |
In vivo and in vitro efficacy of crocin against Echinococcus multilocularis |
title_full |
In vivo and in vitro efficacy of crocin against Echinococcus multilocularis |
title_fullStr |
In vivo and in vitro efficacy of crocin against Echinococcus multilocularis |
title_full_unstemmed |
In vivo and in vitro efficacy of crocin against Echinococcus multilocularis |
title_sort |
in vivo and in vitro efficacy of crocin against echinococcus multilocularis |
publisher |
BMC |
series |
Parasites & Vectors |
issn |
1756-3305 |
publishDate |
2021-07-01 |
description |
Abstract Background Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a fatal zoonosis caused by the larvae of Echinococcus multilocularis. However, current chemotherapy treatment options are based on benzimidazoles [albendazole (ABZ) and mebendazole], which have limited efficacy. Therefore, novel drugs are necessary for the treatment of this disease. Methods The anthelmintic effects of crocin were tested on E. multilocularis metacestodes, germinal cells and protoscoleces in vitro. Human foreskin fibroblasts (HFFs) and Reuber rat hepatoma (RH) cells were used to assess cytotoxicity. The in vivo efficacy of crocin was investigated in mice following secondary infection with E. multilocularis. Furthermore, collagen deposition and degradation in host tissues around the metacestodes were evaluated. Results In vitro, crocin had a median effective concentration of 11.36 μM against cultured E. multilocularis metacestodes, while it reduced germinal cell viability at a median inhibitory concentration of 10.05 μM. Crocin was less toxic to HFFs and RH mammalian cell lines than to metacestodes. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that crocin treatment resulted in structural damage in the germinal layer. In addition, 60.33 ± 3.06% of protoscoleces were killed by treatment with 10 μM crocin for 7 days, indicating that crocin has a parasiticidal effect. In vivo, the metacestode weight was significantly reduced after the administration of crocin at 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg (55.1 and 68.1%, respectively). Metacestode pathology showed structural disruption of the germinal and laminated layers after crocin treatment. The crocin- and ABZ-treated groups presented significant increases in the levels of interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-4. Furthermore, crocin inhibited the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) (MMP2 and MMP9) and promoted collagen deposition in the metacestode. Conclusions Crocin was demonstrated to exert parasiticidal activity against E. multilocularis in vitro and in vivo, and can be developed as a novel drug for the treatment of AE. Graphical abstract |
topic |
Echinococcus multilocularis Protoscoleces Crocin Metacestodes Matrix metalloproteinase 2 Matrix metalloproteinase 9 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-021-04866-4 |
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