The Effect Of Teucrium Polium Essential Oil Combined With Mentha Piperita And Lavandula Angustifolia Essential Oils On Reducing Parasite Resistance Diversity With A Focus On Precise Genetic Changes

Parasitic diseases represent a major global health burden, with increasing reports of drug resistance posing significant obstacles to effective treatment. The need for new, sustainable approaches to manage and counteract this resistance is crucial. Recent scientific focus has shifted toward plant-derived essential oils (EOs) due to their complex bioactive compositions and multipronged biological effects. Among these, Teucrium polium, Mentha piperita (peppermint), and Lavandula angustifolia (lavender) essential oils have drawn attention for their traditional and scientifically validated antimicrobial and antiparasitic properties. The primary aim of this article is to investigate how the combined use of these three essential oils can reduce the diversity of parasite resistance, paying particular attention to the specific genetic changes induced in parasitic organisms. By understanding the genetic-level impacts of these essential oils, this review seeks to highlight the potential mechanisms underlying reduced resistance, paving the way for innovative, nature-inspired antiparasitic strategies. The essential oil of Teucrium polium is rich in compounds such as β-caryophyllene, α-pinene, and limonene, each with demonstrated anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities. When combined with the menthol-rich Mentha piperita oil and the linalool- and linalyl acetate-dominant Lavandula angustifolia oil, the resultant mixture exhibits a broad spectrum of biological activities that may synergistically enhance antiparasitic effects. Preliminary research and traditional uses suggest this synergism could overwhelm parasite defense mechanisms more effectively than single-agent therapies. On a molecular level, exposure to these oils can disrupt parasite cell membranes, interfere with the function of efflux pumps, and impact parasite metabolic and detoxification pathways. Such disruptions are believed to lead to significant changes in gene expression, including the silencing of resistance genes and activation of susceptibility pathways. Moreover, essential oils can induce oxidative stress and other cellular responses that may be reflected in the parasite’s genome and epigenome. Advancements in genetic analysis techniques, such as PCR and next-generation sequencing, allow for the identification of precise genetic and epigenetic modifications in parasites following essential oil treatment. These modifications may manifest as mutations, altered gene expression, or changes in the activation/inhibition of critical molecular pathways related to resistance.

کلیدواژه ها:

Teucrium polium ، Mentha piperita ، Lavandula angustifolia ، parasite resistance ، genetic changes