Anthelmintic activity of Stevia multiaristata extract against Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto

ALBANI, C.M.; PENSEL, P.; PAPADEMETRIO, D.; BEER, M.F.; GAMBINO, G.; ELISSONDO, C.; BORGO, J.; FASCIANI, L.; GRASSO, D.; FARIAS, N.E.; ZOPPI, J.; FABBRI, J.; ELSO, O.; PALADINI, A.; ELISSONDO, N.; SÜLSEN, V.

PARASITOLOGY

CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS

Año: 2021

0031-1820

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a zoonotic disease caused by the larval stage of the parasite Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato. The available anti-parasitic treatment is mostly limited to a continuous administration of albendazole. However, due to its numerous side effects and efficacy of around 50%, there is a need to find new drugs to improve the treatment of this disease. In the present study, the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of a Stevia multiaristata extract against E. granulosus sensu stricto (s.s.) was demonstrated. S. multiaristata extract (100 and 50 µg/mL) caused a quick viability decrease on protoscoleces which was consistent with the observed tegumental alterations. Loss of turgidity was detected in 95 ± 3.4% of cysts incubated with S. multiaristata extract during 2 days (100 µg/mL) and the collapse of the germinal layer was observed in 60 ± 9.3% of cysts treated with 100 µg/mL of the S. multiaristata extract during 4 days. The EC50 value was 69.6 µg/mL and the selectivity index for E. granulosus s.s. cysts was 1.9. In the clinical efficacy study, the treatment of infected mice with S. multiaristata extract (50 mg/kg) caused a significant decrease in the weight of the cysts compared with the control group. These results coincided with the tissue damage observed in the cysts at the ultrastructural level. In conclusion, we obtained high protoscolicidal and cysticidal effects, and significant reduction in the weight of the cysts in experimentally infected mice following treatment with S. multiaristata extract.