Scolicidal and apoptotic activities of (5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone) against Echinococcus granulosus protoscoleces in vitro

Abstract

Hydatidosis or cystic echinococcosis (CE), is a zoonotic infection with different clinical stages caused by the larval stage of the cestode Echinococcus granulosus. It is important to emphasis as a public health problem in various regions of the world. In the current study, we have examined the effects of 5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (Juglone) as a scolicidal agents against fertile cysts via evaluating the apoptosis mechanism. The aim of this study was to determine the scolicidal activity of Juglone against Echinococcus granulosus protoscoleces in vitro. Moreover, we also demonstrated the apoptotic activity of Juglone against protoscoleces in vitro too. To this aim, firstly, protoscoleces were aseptically aspirated from infected livers of sheep with cystic hydatid disease (CHD). Afterwards, various concentrations (mg/mL) of Juglone in different exposure times (min) were used against protoscolices of CHD. The expression of effective molecules in apoptotic activity was evaluated by the semi-qRT-PCR after exposure time. Generally, Juglone in optimized doses could display significantly scolicidal effects. However, the survey revealed that the found results coincide with those for other treatment schedules previously assayed. We also propose the most potent agents for eliminating Echinococcus granulosus protoscoleces in the future.