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Barakat AM, Fadaly HAME, Gareh A, Abd El-Razik KA, Ali FAZ, Saleh AA, Sadek SAS, Dahran N, El-Gendy AENG, El-Khadragy MF, Elmahallawy EK. Wheat Germ Oil and Propolis Decrease Parasite Burden and Restore Marked Histopathological Changes in Liver and Lung in Mice with Chronic Toxoplasmosis. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12223069. [PMID: 36428297 PMCID: PMC9686545 DOI: 10.3390/ani12223069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic zoonotic disease with a worldwide distribution. Its effects can be critical in immunocompromised patients. However, there is a limited availability of effective, low-toxicity drugs against this disease, particularly in its chronic form. The present study evaluated the effect of propolis and wheat germ oil (WGO) as safe, natural products to reduce Toxoplasma cysts in experimentally infected mice. For the experiment, five groups (10 mice per group) were examined: Group 1: negative control (noninfected, nontreated); Group 2: positive control (infected, nontreated); Group 3: infected and treated with WGO at a dose of 0.2 mg/1.5 mL per kg body weight/day; Group 4: infected and treated with 0.1 mL propolis extract/day; and Group 5: infected and treated with a combination of WGO and propolis at the same doses as Group 3 and 4. After the mice were sacrificed, liver and lung specimens underwent histopathological examination, and the parasite burden was investigated by parasitological methods and quantified using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Notably, the results showed a substantial decrease in parasitic burden in Group 5 compared to the control group. These results were further confirmed by molecular analysis and quantification of the DNA concentration of the Toxoplasma P29 gene after treatment in all tested samples. Furthermore, the combination of propolis and WGO restored all histopathological changes in the liver and lungs. Taken together, these findings provide remarkably promising evidence of the effects of the combination of WGO and propolis against chronic toxoplasmosis in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashraf Mohamed Barakat
- Department of Zoonotic Diseases, National Research Centre, El Buhouth St., Dokki, Giza 12622, Egypt
| | | | - Ahmed Gareh
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aswan University, Aswan 24101, Egypt
| | - Khaled A. Abd El-Razik
- Department of Animal Reproduction, Veterinary Research Institute, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza 12622, Egypt
| | - Fatma Abo Zakaib Ali
- Department of Pathology and Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Sohag University, Sohag 82524, Egypt
| | - Amira A. Saleh
- Department of Human Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt
| | - Sabry A. S. Sadek
- Department of Zoonotic Diseases, National Research Centre, El Buhouth St., Dokki, Giza 12622, Egypt
| | - Naief Dahran
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jeddah, Jeddah 21959, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abd El-Nasser G. El-Gendy
- Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research Department, Pharmaceutical and Drug Industries Research Institute, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza 12622, Egypt
| | - Manal F. El-Khadragy
- Department of biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ehab Kotb Elmahallawy
- Department of Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Sohag University, Sohag 82524, Egypt
- Correspondence:
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El-kady AM, Al-Megrin WAI, Abdel-Rahman IAM, Sayed E, Alshehri EA, Wakid MH, Baakdah FM, Mohamed K, Elshazly H, Alobaid HM, Qahl SH, Elshabrawy HA, Younis SS. Ginger Is a Potential Therapeutic for Chronic Toxoplasmosis. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11070798. [PMID: 35890042 PMCID: PMC9315699 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11070798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2022] [Revised: 07/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background:Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is an opportunistic parasite that causes serious diseases in humans, particularly immunocompromised individuals and pregnant women. To date, there are limited numbers of therapeutics for chronic toxoplasmosis which necessitate the discovery of effective and safe therapeutics. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the antitoxoplasmosis potential of ginger extract in mice with experimentally induced chronic toxoplasmosis. Results: Treatment with ginger extract significantly reduced cysts count in the brains of T. gondii-infected mice with a marked alleviation of edema and inflammation, and a reversal of neuronal injury. Moreover, ginger extract treatment reduced inflammation in liver and lungs and protected hepatocytes from infection-induced degeneration. Consistently, apoptosis was significantly mitigated in the brains of ginger extract-treated mice compared to infected untreated animals or spiramycin-treated animals. Methods: Four groups of Swiss albino mice (10 mice each) were used. The first group was not infected, whereas 3 groups were infected with Me49 T. gondii strains. One infected group remained untreated (infected untreated), whereas the other two infected groups were treated with either ginger extract (250 mg/kg) or spiramycin (positive control; 100 mg/kg), respectively. The therapeutic potential of ginger extract was evaluated by calculation of the parasite burden in infected animals, and examination of the infected tissues for reduced pathologic changes. Conclusions: Our results showed for the first time that ginger extract exhibited marked therapeutic effects in mice with chronic T. gondii infection which indicates that it can be used as a safe and effective treatment for chronic toxoplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asmaa M. El-kady
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, South Valley University, Qena 83523, Egypt
- Correspondence: Correspondence: (A.M.E.-k.); (H.A.E.)
| | - Wafa Abdullah I. Al-Megrin
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Iman A. M. Abdel-Rahman
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, South Valley University, Qena 83523, Egypt;
| | - Eman Sayed
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, South Valley University, Qena 83523, Egypt;
| | - Eman Abdullah Alshehri
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia; (E.A.A.); (H.M.A.)
| | - Majed H. Wakid
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; (M.H.W.); (F.M.B.)
- Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fadi M. Baakdah
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; (M.H.W.); (F.M.B.)
- Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khalil Mohamed
- Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Public Health and Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Mecca 21961, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Hayam Elshazly
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences -Scientific Departments, Qassim University, Buraidah, Qassim 52571, Saudi Arabia;
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Beni Suef University, Beni Suef 62521, Egypt
| | - Hussah M. Alobaid
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia; (E.A.A.); (H.M.A.)
| | - Safa H. Qahl
- Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Jeddah, Jeddah 21959, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Hatem A. Elshabrawy
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Sam Houston State University, Conroe, TX 77304, USA
- Correspondence: Correspondence: (A.M.E.-k.); (H.A.E.)
| | - Salwa S. Younis
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21131, Egypt;
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Ma R, He J, Xu B, Zhao R, Zhang Q. Negative correlation between bone mineral density and subclinical fractures in patients with human immunodeficiency virus. J Int Med Res 2021; 49:300060520980639. [PMID: 33528283 PMCID: PMC7871090 DOI: 10.1177/0300060520980639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Although low bone mineral density (BMD) is associated with an increased risk of fracture, few studies have assessed fracture rates in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Methods The occurrence of subclinical fractures in patients with HIV was assessed. Pearson’s chi-square test was used to analyze the relationship between subclinical fractures and related factors. Results Fifty patients with HIV were included, among whom 11 were diagnosed with subclinical fractures. These 11 patients had a mean body mass index of 24.127 ± 3.482 kg/m2, smoked a mean of 142.091 ± 3.482 cigarettes/month, drank a mean of 61.545 ± 13.026 mL/day of alcohol, had a mean CD4+ T cell count of 247.727 ± 181.679 cells/mm3, had a mean duration of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) of 4.27 ± 0.786 years, and had a mean BMD of the third lumbar spine of 0.810 ± 0.063 g/cm3. The AIDS duration and BMD of the third lumbar spine were significantly associated with subclinical fractures. The BMD of the third lumbar spine was negatively correlated with subclinical fractures. Conclusion A significant negative correlation was found between the BMD of the third lumbar spine and subclinical fractures.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Qiang Zhang
- Qiang Zhang, Department of Orthopedics, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 8 Jingshun Dong Jie, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100015, China.
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