Effect of different terpene-containing essential oils on the proliferation of Echinococcus granulosus larval cells

CLARA MARÍA ALBANI; GUILLERMO MARÍA DENEGRI; MARÍA CELINA ELISSONDO

Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases

Hindawi Publishing Corporation

Año: 2014 vol. 2014 p. 1 - 7

1687-708X

Human cystic echinococcosis remains a major public health problem on several countries and the treatment strategies are not solved.The aim of the presentwork was to determine the in vitro effect of thymol and Mentha piperita, M. pulegium, and Rosmarinus officinalis essential oils on the proliferation of E. granulosus larval cells. Isolated cells and cellular aggregates were obtained from hydatid cysts germinal layer and exposed to 1, 5, and 10 ug/ml of thymol and the different essential oils for 7 days. Drug effect was evaluated using test viability and scanning electron microscopy. Control cell culture viability was 2.1 x 106 (100%) after 7 days of incubation. At day 7, thymol 5 ug/ml caused a reduction in cell viability of 63% and the essential oils of M. piperita 10 ug/ml, M. pulegium 10 ug/ml, and R. officinalis 10 ug/ml produced a reduction in the viability of 77, 82, and 71%, respectively. Moreover essential oils caused reduction in cell number, collapsed cells, and loss of normal tridimensional composition of the aggregates.Due to the inhibitory effect caused by essential oils on E. granulosus cells we suggested that it would be an effectivemeans for suppression of larval growth.