Scolicidal effects of the Nicotiana tabacum L. extract at various concentrations and exposure times

Tobacco is a plant that has anti-nematode and anti-inflammatory properties, due to that it contains compounds such as nicotine sulfate. It is utilized as a medicinal plant in the therapy of infectious diseases; also, it has been used to kill insects’ larvae and plant pests.

The goal of this work was the evaluation of tobacco extract effects on the scolices of hydatid cysts.

Hydatid cysts of the infected sheep livers were gathered from the Qazvin abattoir and their protoscolices were isolated under sterile conditions. Fertility and viability of protoscolices were confirmed before the experiments. The protoscolices were exposed to the ethanolic extract of Nicotiana tabacum, at different concentrations (3, 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100 mg/ml) and various exposure times (10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 min). Sodium chloride 0.9 % was selected as negative control. The viability of protoscolices was evaluated by staining via 0.1 % eosin.

At 100 mg/ml, the tobacco extract caused the death of 91.19 % of protoscolices after 10 minutes of contact, and other exposure times (20 to 60 minutes) resulted in the death of 100 % of protoscolices.

This medicinal plant showed a good scolicidal effect and it may be used for improving the procedure of hydatid cyst surgery. But, further studies are required.