EVALUATION OF THE ANTI-PARASITIC EFFECT OF EXTRACTS OF HOP LEAVES ON Echinococcus granulosus PROTOSCOLECES

ALBANI CLARA MARÍA; IGLESIAS A.; MAGGI M.; CELINA, ELISSONDO MARÍA

Mar del Plata

Congreso; XVI Biologos en Red; 2022

Cystic echinococcosis is a worldwide zoonotic disease caused by the larval stageof Echinococcus granulosus, which produces long-term infections in humans andanimals. Available anti-parasitic treatment is mostly limited to benzimidazoles, mainlyalbendazole. However, it has undesirable side effects and their efficacy is about 50%.Based on the problematic described, new treatment alternatives are urgently needed.Hop (Humulus lupulus L.) is primarily known as bittering agent in brewing industry.However, its uses have become more diverse in recent years. It is appreciated inphytotherapy, for its sedative, digestive, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects.Also the antiparasitic activity was shown for some hop purified compounds onTrypanosoma brucei. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the in vitro efficacyof methanolic extracts of different H. lupulus varieties against protoscoleces of E.granulosus. Viable and free protoscoleces were treated with 100 μg/ml of different H.lupulus extracts. The varieties tested were Bullion, Cascade, Traful, Mapuche andVictoria. Culture tubes were followed microscopically every day. Viability assessmentusing the methylene blue exclusion test was performed. Control protoscolecesremained viable throughout the experimental period and no morphological changeswere observed. The greatest protoscolicidal effect was observed with the Mapuchevariety where the viability decreased to 20% at day 9. Moreover, protoscoleces treatedwith Mapuche during 3 days showed soma contraction, rostellar disorganization andpresence of blebs in the tegument. The treatment with the variety Victoria caused thefirst morphological alterations at day 6 and the viability decreased to 35% at day 12. Thevarieties Cascade, Traful and Bullion caused a slower effect. In conclusion, themethanolic extracts of the H. lupulus varieties Mapuche and Victoria demonstrated amarked in vitro effect against E. granulosus protoscoleces.