Survey on effects of albendazole, Echinacea purpurea, sambucus ebulus and zinc oxide nanoparticles on unilocular hydatid cyst in mice

Hydatidosis is one of the most common zoonotic diseases. Surgery is the preferred treatment for disease and chemotherapy is recommended for patients that surgically treatment is impossible. In this study، the therapeutic effects of herbal Echinacea purpurea، Sambucus ebulus and zinc oxide nanoparticles compared with albendazole was investigated on experimental infection model in mice. The 36 mice were divided into 6 groups. Two thulands Live protoscoleces (n=2000) were injected intraperitoneally. The mice were kept for 8 months. Two groups were considered as non-infected control group and infected control group. Third group، were treated with zinc oxide nanoparticles، group IV، with Echinacea purpurea، the fifth group، with Sambucus ebulus and group VI، with albendazole daily for one month. After the treatment period، mice were dissected. Number، size and volume of cysts in the viscera were determined. The results showed that in all infected groups، cysts were formed. Furthermore the number، size and volume of cysts in treated groups، in comparison with control infected group were reduced significantly (P<0. 05). The minimum number in the treated group with Echinacea purpurea، the minimum size and volume of cysts were observed in the treated group with Sambucus ebulus. The largest number، volume and the maximum size of the cysts were observed in the infected control group. The study of therapeutic effects of Sambucus ebulus and Echinacea purpurea herbal medicines and zinc oxide nanoparticles demonstrated a significant reduction of the number، size and volume of the cysts. It seems that Sambucus ebulus and Echinacea by stimulates the host immune system، induced changes were mentioned. Scolicidal effects of zinc oxide maybe due to the protective effects against oxidative stresses and/or similar to cytotoxic effects on cancer cells. However، the mechanism of action by each of these ingredients، especially herbs issue requires further studies in the future.