In Vitro Evaluation of Methanolic Extracts of Urtica dioica and Melissa officinalis as Scolicidal Agents Against Hydatid Cyst Protoscoleces

Cystic Echinococcosis is a zoonotic infection that causes complications such as cyst rupture and secondary infections, requiring effective scolicidal agents. Due to adverse reactions and toxicity of current treatments, new plant-derived SA are needed. This study evaluates the scolicidal effects of methanolic extracts of Urtica dioica and Melissa officinalis in vitro. Leaves were dried, ground, soaked in methanol, filtered, and concentrated. protoscoleces of Echinococcus granulosus were isolated from an infected sheep's liver and assessed for viability using eosin staining. The efficacy of plant extracts was tested at concentrations of ۵۰, ۱۰۰, and ۲۰۰ mg/ml for ۱۵, ۳۰, ۴۵, ۶۰, and ۱۲۰ minutes. Positive controls were ۷۰% ethanol and ۲۰% sodium chloride; ۰.۹% normal saline served as the negative control. Results showed that ۷۰% ethanol and ۲۰% sodium chloride had a lethal effect of ۸۶-۱۰۰%. Urtica extract had a ۲۲-۷۲% lethal effect at ۲۰۰ mg/ml, ۸-۴۰% at ۱۰۰ mg/ml, and ۷-۳۲% at ۵۰ mg/ml. Melissa extract had a ۳۷-۹۵% lethal effect at ۲۰۰ mg/ml, ۱۶-۵۲% at ۱۰۰ mg/ml, and ۱۲-۳۷% at ۵۰ mg/ml. The results showed that the protoscolexicidal activity of methanol extracts increased with time. The methanol extract of lemon balm at a concentration of ۲۰۰ mg/ml killed ۹۵% of protoscoleces in ۱۲۰ minutes, while the nettle extract at the same concentration killed ۷۲% of protoscoleces in the same period. Therefore, the methanol extract of lemon balm can be utilized as a potent protoscolexicidal agent.

کلیدواژه ها:

Cystic Echinococcosis ، Hydatidosis ، Urtica dioica ، Melissa officinalis ، Protoscolex