Interactions between mefloquine and the anti-fibrotic drug silymarin on Schistosoma mansoni infections in mice

Journal of Helminthology
Reem O A Kamel

Abstract

The present study tests the anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects of silymarin alone or combined with mefloquine on acute schistosomiasis by evaluating parasitological, histopathological, biochemical and immunological parameters. Male CDI Swiss mice were divided into seven groups, which included healthy controls, mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni or treated with silymarin (140 mg/kg body weight) or mefloquine (400 mg/kg body weight), or mice treated with a combination of both drugs and uninfected mice simply treated with mefloquine or silymarin alone. All mouse groups were sacrificed 8 weeks post-infection (pi) and/or post-treatment. Those infected mice treated with both silymarin and mefloquine showed a significant decrease (P <  0.001) in worm burden, immunoglobulins (IgG and IgM), liver function enzymes and granuloma diameter, with complete eradication of immature and mature eggs. In conclusion, treatment with silymarin combined with mefloquine in murine schistosomiasis was able to reduce granulomatous reactions and hepatic fibrosis. Hence, this combination is a new strategy to be studied as an efficient tool in the treatment of schistosomal liver fibrosis.

References

Aug 1, 1986·International Journal for Parasitology·M TendlerN Katz
Jan 1, 1971·The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene·A W Cheever, L A Anderson
Jul 1, 1967·The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene·R H Duvall, W B DeWitt
Jun 5, 2003·International Journal for Parasitology·Gina Cunto-AmestyThomas Kieber-Emmons
Nov 1, 1954·Journal of Clinical Pathology·P R KIND, E J KING
Jul 1, 1957·American Journal of Clinical Pathology·S REITMAN, S FRANKEL
Mar 1, 1962·The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene·J PELLEGRINOA S CUNHA
Mar 9, 2005·World Journal of Gastroenterology : WJG·Da-Hee JeongKyu-Shik Jeong
Feb 28, 2006·Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research·Zhenyuan SongCraig McClain
May 27, 2008·Acta Tropica·Zilton A Andrade
Nov 4, 2008·Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases·Michael J DoenhoffJürg Utzinger
Feb 18, 2010·PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases·Melissa L BurkeGeoffrey N Gobert
Aug 10, 2010·Parasitology Research·Hílton Antonio Mata-SantosAlexandre dos Santos Pyrrho
Apr 4, 2012·Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy·Katrin IngramJennifer Keiser
May 29, 2012·Infectious Disease Clinics of North America·Bruno Gryseels
Jan 23, 2014·Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy·Hílton Antônio Mata-SantosAlexandre dos Santos Pyrrho

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Anthelmintics (ASM)

Anthelmintics or antihelminthics are a group of antiparasitic drugs that expel parasitic worms (helminths) and other internal parasites from the body by either stunning or killing them and without causing significant damage to the host. Discover the latest research on anthelmintics here.

Anthelmintics

Anthelmintics or antihelminthics are a group of antiparasitic drugs that expel parasitic worms (helminths) and other internal parasites from the body by either stunning or killing them and without causing significant damage to the host. Discover the latest research on anthelmintics here.

Anti-inflammatory Treatments

A drug or substance that reduces inflammation (redness, swelling, and pain) in the body. Anti-inflammatory agents block certain substances in the body that cause inflammation and swelling. Discover the latest research on anti-inflammatory treatments here