Complementary effect of Capparis spinosa L. and silymarin with/without praziquantel on mice experimentally infected with Schistosoma mansoni

Abstract

SummarySchistosomiasis remains to be the most common fi brotic disease resulting from infl ammation and deposition of scar tissue around trapped parasitic eggs in the liver. Though chemotherapy eradicates matured worms effi ciently and prevents the accumulation of schistosome eggs, fewer effective drugs are directed to reverse the present hepatic fi brosis. Therefore, treatment targeting hepatic fi brosis associated with schistosomiasis remains a challenging proposition. The present study was designed to investigate the potential complementary schistosomicidal and hepatoprotective activities of the methanol extract of Capparis spinosa L. (C. spinosa) with or without praziquantel (PZQ) and compare results with silymarin (Milk thistle), a known hepatoprotective and antifi brotic agent, on induced liver fi brosis by experimental Schistosoma mansoni (S. mansoni) infection. Total polyphenols in the extract were determined using colorimetric assay. C. spinosa L. caused a partial decrease in worm burden; a statistically signifi cant reduction in hepatic and intestinal tissue egg load, what was associated histopathologically with decreasing in both the number and diameter of granulomas, as well as restoring serum aminotransferases (AST & ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and improving liver albumin synthesis. The best results were obtained in the group of mice treated with C. spinosa L. and PZQ together. Quantitative estimation of total polyphenols content using colorimetric assay showed that C. spinosa L. leaves contain higher concentration of polyphenolic compounds than fruits. It was concluded that C. spinosa L. has a promising hepatoprotective and antifi brotic properties and could be introduced as a safe and effective therapeutic tool with PZQ in the treatment of schistosomal liver fi brosis. Nevertheless further studies on the mechanism of action of C. spinosa L. in chronic liver diseases may shed light on developing therapeutic methods in clinical practice.

Caper (Capparis spinosa L.): An Updated Review on Its Phytochemistry, Nutritional Value, Traditional Uses, and Therapeutic Potential

“…(2019 investigated the acute toxicity effect of polyphenolic extract of the plant leaves and the extract was nontoxic at doses up to 100 mg/kg b.w (Oudah hamam et al, 2019). The hydroalcoholic extract of Caper fruits in rats showed an LD 50 value of 400 mg/kg supporting results encountered by El-Hawary et al (2018) who demonstrated no mortality in rats within 24 h of pretreatment with Caper methanol extract at The level of liver MDA significantly declined while the GSH activity was significantly elevated after treatment with the extract at 200 and 400 mg/kg while the group treated with TAA showed higher levels of MDA and lower levels of GSH.…”

A field study to restricted poisonous wild plants grown in Al-Kharj region, Saudi Arabia

“…The poisonous compounds are concentrated in the vegetable parts, floral buds, flowers, peel and seeds (47). The LD50 of Capparis spinosa fruit extract was reported to be greater than 4000 mg/kg in rats (48).…”

Efficacy of Capparis spinosa Linn Leaf and Fruit Extracts on Giardia Lambia Cysts In vitro

“…Other studies have showed limited activity of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria (Helicobacter pylori, Escherichia coli, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Bacillus cereus) by C. spinosa [12,13]. In addition, total polyphenols of C. spinosa alone or in together with praziquantel exhibited schistosomicidal and hepatoprotective effects in mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni [14]. Therefore, the present study was designed to evaluate the effect of hydroalcoholic extracts of C. spinosa leaves and fruits on G. lamblia cysts in vitro.…”