Abstract
Background Nanotechnology has been manufactured from medicinal plants to develop safe, and effective antischistosmal alternatives to replace today's therapies. The aim of the study is to evaluate the prophylactic effect of ginger-derived nanoparticles (GNPs), and the therapeutic effect of ginger aqueous extract, and GNPs on Schistosoma mansoni (S. mansoni) infected mice compared to praziquantel (PZQ), and mefloquine (MFQ).
Methodology/principal findings Eighty four mice, divided into nine different groups, were sacrificed at 6(th), 8(th), and 10(th) week post-infection (PI), with assessment of parasitological, histopathological, and oxidative stress parameters, and scanning the worms by electron microscope. As a prophylactic drug, GNPs showed slight reduction in worm burden, egg density, and granuloma size and number. As a therapeutic drug, GNPs significantly reduced worm burden (59.9%), tissue egg load (64.9%), granuloma size, and number at 10(th) week PI, and altered adult worm tegumental architecture, added to antioxidant effect. Interestingly, combination of GNPs with PZQ or MFQ gave almost similar or sometimes better curative effects as obtained with each drug separately. The highest therapeutic effect was obtained when 1/2 dose GNPs combined with 1/2 dose MFQ which achieved 100% reduction in both the total worm burden, and ova tissue density as early as the 6(th) week PI, with absence of detected eggs or tissue granuloma, and preservation of liver architecture.
Conclusions/significance GNPs have a schistosomicidal, antioxidant, and hepatoprotective role. GNPs have a strong synergistic effect when combined with etiological treatments (PZQ or MFQ), and significantly reduced therapeutic doses by 50%, which may mitigate side effects and resistance to etiological drugs, a hypothesis requiring further research. We recommend extending this study to humans.
Author summary Schistosomiasis is one of the most important tropical diseases that yearly cause millions of morbidities and mortalities. Several researchers are interested in trying variable chemical and herbal drugs for treating the disease. This research introduced a trial for prophylaxis and treating schistosomiasis mansoni in mice using ginger-derived nanoparticles (GNPs). GNPs have antischistosmal, antioxidant and hepatoprotective features. The nano-formulation of ginger provides a safer therapeutic and restorative enhancer to etiological treatments. GNPs may reduce infection complication, reduce required therapeutic doses of Schistosoma-standard drugs, and may help mitigate the side effects of and resistance to standard drugs; hypotheses which require further studies.