Trichinella spiralis: A new parasitic target for curcumin nanoformulas in mice models

Safaa Ibrahim Khedr; Maha Mohamed Gomaa; Nermine Mogahed Fawzy Hussien Mogahed; Ghada A Gamea; Gehan A M Khodear; Eman Sheta; Nada A H Soliman; Amira A El Saadany; Amina M Salama

doi:10.1016/j.parint.2023.102810

Trichinella spiralis: A new parasitic target for curcumin nanoformulas in mice models

Parasitol Int. 2024 Feb:98:102810. doi: 10.1016/j.parint.2023.102810. Epub 2023 Sep 18.

Authors

Safaa Ibrahim Khedr¹, Maha Mohamed Gomaa², Nermine Mogahed Fawzy Hussien Mogahed², Ghada A Gamea³, Gehan A M Khodear⁴, Eman Sheta⁵, Nada A H Soliman⁶, Amira A El Saadany⁷, Amina M Salama³

Affiliations

¹ Medical Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Egypt. Electronic address: Siak_1380@Yahoo.com.
² Medical Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Egypt.
³ Medical Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Egypt.
⁴ Medical technology center, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Egypt.
⁵ Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Egypt.
⁶ Medical Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Egypt.
⁷ Pharmacology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Egypt.

PMID: 37730195
DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2023.102810

Abstract

Trichinosis spiralis is a global disease with significant economic impact. Albendazole is the current-treatment. Yet, the world-widely emerging antimicrobial resistance necessitates search for therapeutic substitutes. Curcumin is a natural compound with abundant therapeutic benefits. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of crude-curcumin, chitosan and for the first time curcumin-nano-emulsion and curcumin-loaded-chitosan-nanoparticles against Trichinella spiralis adults and larvae in acute and chronic trichinosis models. Trichinosis spiralis was induced in 96 Swiss-albino mice. Infected mice were divided into 2 groups. Group I constituted the acute model, where treatment started 2 h after infection for 5 successive days. Group II constituted the chronic model, where treatment started at the 30th day-post-infection and continued for 10 successive days (Refer to graphical abstract). Each group contained 8 subgroups that were designated Ia-Ih and IIa-IIh and included; a; Untreated-control, b; Albendazole-treated (Alb-treated), c; Crude-curcumin-treated (Cur-treated), d; Curcumin-nanoemulsion-treated (Cur-NE-treated), e; Albendazole and crude-curcumin-treated (Alb-Cur-treated), f; Albendazole and curcumin-nanoemulsion-treated (Alb-Cur-NE-treated), g; Chitosan-nanoparticles-treated (CS-NPs-treated) and h; Curcumin-loaded-chitosan-nanoparticles-treated (Cur-CS-NPs-treated). Additionally, six mice constituted control-uninfected group III. The effects of the used compounds on the parasite tegument, in-vivo parasitic load-worm burden, local pathology and MDA concentration in small intestines of acutely-infected and skeletal muscle of chronically-infected mice were studied. Results showed that albendazole was effective, yet, its combination with Cur-NE showed significant potentiation against adult worms and muscle larvae and alleviated the pathology in both models. Cur-CS-NPs exhibited promising results in both models. Crude-curcumin showed encouraging results especially against muscle larvae on long-term use. Treatments effectively reduced parasite load, local MDA level and CD31 expression with anti-inflammatory effect in intestine and muscle sections.

Keywords: CD31; Chitosan; Curcumin; MDA; Nanoemulsion; Trichinella spiralis.

MeSH terms

Albendazole / pharmacology
Albendazole / therapeutic use
Animals
Chitosan* / pharmacology
Chitosan* / therapeutic use
Curcumin* / pharmacology
Curcumin* / therapeutic use
Larva
Mice
Parasites*
Trichinella spiralis*
Trichinellosis* / drug therapy
Trichinellosis* / parasitology

Substances

Albendazole
Curcumin
Chitosan