Effect of Viscum album Extract on the Angiogenic Process During the Muscular Phase of Experimental trichinellosis

Eimam, Goma D.; El-Dardiry, Marwa A.; Badawi, Manal; Abd-Alghany, Asmaa R.

doi:10.21608/eajbse.2025.442845

Effect of Viscum album Extract on the Angiogenic Process During the Muscular Phase of Experimental trichinellosis

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Medical Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Fayoum University, Egypt.

² Department of Pathology, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt.

³ Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt.

10.21608/eajbse.2025.442845

Abstract

Albendazole is the current treatment for trichinosis; however, there are uncertainties about its efficacy in removing the encapsulated phases. This study explored the effect of Viscum album “VA” extract as a possible substitute with and without albendazole, against the muscular phase of trichinellosis. Four groups of infected CD1 Swiss-Albino male mice were used: G1: non-treated, G2: treated with albendazole, G3: treated with VA, and G4: treated with VA combined with albendazole. Assessment was conducted by counting the number of larvae, followed by histopathological examination and immunohistochemical quantitative detection of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) angiogenic marker. The treated group by combined medications signified the lowest number of larvae (64.38±21.3) with the best reduction rate (93%). Immunohistochemical stain reported significantly lower levels of VEGF in treated groups with VA and combined therapy in comparison to infected non-treated groups and infected treated by albendazole monotherapy (3.4 ±0.09, 2.9 ±0.06 and 12.7 ±0.11, 11.9 ±0.12) respectively, reflecting the great anti-angiogenic activity of VA. In addition, the inflammatory response was greatly diminished in VA-treated groups, manifesting its anti-inflammatory effect as well. Our findings suggest that VA is a possible therapeutic agent against the muscular phase of experimental Trichinellosis, especially when combined with albendazole. V A succeeded in affecting the encapsulated phases by depriving them of a nutritional source and positively modulated the inflammatory response in favor of the host. Therefore, aquatic extracts of VA are recommended to be further investigated as a prophylactic or therapeutic agent against a wide range of parasitic infections.

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