Evaluation of the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Hypericum perfortum L. on survival of Echinococcus granulosus protoscolices in vitro

Hydrotidosis is a medical and veterinary disease that, in addition to causing significant economic damage to the livestock industry, can also threaten the health of humans. The elimination of hydatid cyst protoscolices is one of the major challenges of treating cysts during surgery. So, achieving an effective scolicidal compound with low side effects is essential for this purpose. In this study, St. John's Wort hydroalcoholic extract was used to evaluate protoscolices' viability and ultrastructural changes.

After collecting hepatic hydatid cysts from the slaughterhouse, cyst fluid containing live protoscolices was aspirated under sterile conditions, then stored at 4 ° C in a refrigerator. Protoscolices were stained with 0.1% eosin to determine their survival rate. Then, the activity of the treated protoscolices with hydroalcoholic extract of St. John's wort was examined at different concentrations of 50, 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 mg/ml for 10, 20, 30, and 60 minutes. For ultrastructural studies by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the exposed protoscolices with plant extract were prepared. The growth inhibition was assayed using MTT (Methy Thiazol Tetrazolium) test. The result of the data was analyzed using statistical tests.

The highest protoscolecidal activity of Hypericum perfortum aqueous-alcoholic extract was observed at a concentration of 200 mg/ml after 30 minutes of exposure, resulting in the elimination of all treated protoscolices. Ultrastructural changes in treated protoscolices were observed as extensive tegument damage, loss of tegument integrity rostellum and hooks dislocation, and reduced protoscolices size. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value was 564.8 mg/ml for 24 hours.

The results of this study showed that the hydroalcoholic extract of St. John's wort has strong protoscolecidal effects. It can be used as an effective scolocidal composition in surgery methods.