Comparative Evaluation of Anthelmintic Activity of Edible and Ornamental Pomegranate Ethanolic Extracts againstSchistosoma mansoni

Abstract

Due to the development of praziquantel (PZQ) schistosomes resistant strains, the discovery of new antischistosomal agents is of high priority in research. This work reported thein vitroandin vivoeffects of the edible and ornamental pomegranate extracts againstSchistosoma mansoni. Leaves and stem bark ethanolic extracts of both dried pomegranates were prepared at 100, 300, and 500 μg/mL forin vitroand 600 and 800 mg/kg forin vivo. Adult wormsSchistosoma mansoniin RPMI-1640 medium forin vitroandS. mansoniinfected mice forin vivotests were obtained from Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Cairo, Egypt.In vitroactivity was manifested by significant coupled worms separation, reduction of motor activity, lethality, and ultrastructural tegumental alterations in adult worms.In vivoactivity was manifested revealed by significant reduction of hepatic granulomas number and diameter, decreased number of bilharzial eggs in liver tissues, lowered liver inflammatory infiltration, decreased hepatic fibrosis, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression. Ethanolic stem bark extract of edible pomegranate exhibited highest antischistosomal activities bothin vitroandin vivo. Therefore, pomegranate showed a good potential to be used as a promising new candidate for the development of new schistosomicidal agents.