<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Schistosomiasis remains to be the most common fibrotic disease resulting from inflammation and deposition of scar tissue around trapped parasitic eggs in the liver. Though chemotherapy eradicates matured worms efficiently and prevents the accumulation of <italic>schistosome</italic> eggs, fewer effective drugs are directed to reverse the present hepatic fibrosis. Therefore, treatment targeting hepatic fibrosis associated with schistosomiasis remains a challenging proposition.The present study was designed to investigate the potential complementary schistosomicidal and hepatoprotective activities of the methanol extract of <italic>Capparis spinosa</italic> L. (<italic>C. spinosa</italic>) with or without praziquantel (PZQ) and compare results with silymarin (Milk thistle), a known hepatoprotective and antifibrotic agent, on induced liver fibrosis by experimental <italic>Schistosoma mansoni</italic> (<italic>S. mansoni</italic>) infection. Total polyphenols in the extract were determined using colorimetric assay.<italic>C. spinosa</italic> L. caused a partial decrease in worm burden; a statistically significant reduction in hepatic and intestinal tissue egg load, what was associated histopathologically with decreasing in both the number and diameter of granulomas, as well as restoring serum aminotransferases (AST &amp; ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and improving liver albumin synthesis. The best results were obtained in the group of mice treated with <italic>C. spinosa</italic> L. and PZQ together. Quantitative estimation of total polyphenols content using colorimetric assay showed that <italic>C. spinosa</italic> L. leaves contain higher concentration of polyphenolic compounds than fruits.It was concluded that <italic>C. spinosa</italic> L. has a promising hepatoprotective and antifibrotic properties and could be introduced as a safe and effective therapeutic tool with PZQ in the treatment of schistosomal liver fibrosis. Nevertheless further studies on the mechanism of action of <italic>C. spinosa</italic> L. in chronic liver diseases may shed light on developing therapeutic methods in clinical practice.</abstract>

Schistosomiasis remains to be the most common fibrotic disease resulting from inflammation and deposition of scar tissue around trapped parasitic eggs in the liver. Though chemotherapy eradicates matured worms efficiently and prevents the accumulation of schistosome eggs, fewer effective drugs are directed to reverse the present hepatic fibrosis. Therefore, treatment targeting hepatic fibrosis associated with schistosomiasis remains a challenging proposition.The present study was designed to investigate the potential complementary schistosomicidal and hepatoprotective activities of the methanol extract of Capparis spinosa L. (C. spinosa) with or without praziquantel (PZQ) and compare results with silymarin (Milk thistle), a known hepatoprotective and antifibrotic agent, on induced liver fibrosis by experimental Schistosoma mansoni (S. mansoni) infection. Total polyphenols in the extract were determined using colorimetric assay.C. spinosa L. caused a partial decrease in worm burden; a statistically significant reduction in hepatic and intestinal tissue egg load, what was associated histopathologically with decreasing in both the number and diameter of granulomas, as well as restoring serum aminotransferases (AST & ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and improving liver albumin synthesis. The best results were obtained in the group of mice treated with C. spinosa L. and PZQ together. Quantitative estimation of total polyphenols content using colorimetric assay showed that C. spinosa L. leaves contain higher concentration of polyphenolic compounds than fruits.It was concluded that C. spinosa L. has a promising hepatoprotective and antifibrotic properties and could be introduced as a safe and effective therapeutic tool with PZQ in the treatment of schistosomal liver fibrosis. Nevertheless further studies on the mechanism of action of C. spinosa L. in chronic liver diseases may shed light on developing therapeutic methods in clinical practice.

Complementary effect of <italic>Capparis spinosa</italic> L. and silymarin with/without praziquantel on mice experimentally infected with <italic>Schistosoma mansoni</italic>

Pharmacognosy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy

Applied Research Center of Medicinal Plants, National Organization of Drug Control and Research

Department of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Horticulture Research Institute, ARC

Medical Parasitology Department, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute

Medical Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicne

Helminthologia

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Complementary effect of  L. and silymarin with/without praziquantel on mice experimentally infected with 

Schistosomiasis remains to be the most common fibrotic disease resulting from inflammation and deposition of scar tissue around trapped parasitic eggs in the...

Complementary effect of Capparis spinosa L. and silymarin with/without praziquantel on mice experimentally infected with Schistosoma mansoni

Published Online: Jan 27, 2018

Page range: 21 - 32

Received: Aug 17, 2017

Accepted: Nov 20, 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/helm-2017-0055

Keywords
L., praziquantel, silymarin, hepatoprotective, colorimetric assay

© 2018 S. S. El-Hawary et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Complementary effect of Capparis spinosa L. and silymarin with/without praziquantel on mice experimentally infected with Schistosoma mansoni

Published Online: Jan 27, 2018

Page range: 21 - 32

Received: Aug 17, 2017

Accepted: Nov 20, 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/helm-2017-0055

KeywordsL., praziquantel, silymarin, hepatoprotective, colorimetric assay

© 2018 S. S. El-Hawary et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
L., praziquantel, silymarin, hepatoprotective, colorimetric assay