Ethanol Extracts of Achillea millefolium and Hypericum perforatum Low Anti-Toxoplasma Activity
Shagayegh Nozari1, Mohtaram Adine1, Farzaneh Javadi1
1Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran.
Objectives:
This study was performed to determine the lethal and the inhibitory effects of ethanol extracts of Achillea millefolium (A. millefolium) and Hypericum perforatum (H. perforatum) on Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) RH strain tachyzoites in vitro.
Methods:
The tachyzoites were treated with concentrations of 10, 50, and 100 mg/mL of A. millefolium and H. perforatum extracts within 10, 30, and 45 minutes in the wells. The mortality rates of tachyzoites treated with extracts were determined by using alkaline methylene blue staining. Also, the tachyzoites in cell cultures were treated with concentrations of 50, 100, and 200 mg/mL of these extracts. The cell viability, inhibition concentration (IC50), and selectivity were determined from MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assays.
Results:
In the cell-free in vitro study, all of tachyzoites were killed at concentrations of 100 mg/mL of both extracts while at concentration 10 mg/mL, the mortality was 4.53% - 5.31%. In the cell culture study, the values of the effective concentration (EC50) were 215 and 153 μg/mL and the selectivities were 0.73 and 0.69 for the A. millefolium and the H. perforatum extracts, respectively.
Conclusion:
We conclude that neither extracts has any significant effect on the tachyzoites of T. gondii in cell cultures.
Insights
Ethanol extracts of Achillea millefolium and Hypericum perforatum showed some lethal effects on Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites in cell-free conditions. However, these extracts did not demonstrate significant inhibitory effects on T. gondii in cell cultures.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Parasitology
- Natural Products
Background:
- Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is an opportunistic parasite causing toxoplasmosis.
- Natural products are explored for antiparasitic activities.
- Achillea millefolium and Hypericum perforatum are medicinal plants with various bioactivities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the in vitro lethal and inhibitory effects of Achillea millefolium and Hypericum perforatum ethanol extracts.
- To determine the efficacy against Toxoplasma gondii RH strain tachyzoites.
Main Methods:
- Cell-free assays using alkaline methylene blue staining to assess tachyzoite mortality.
- Cell culture assays with MTT to determine effective concentration (EC50) and selectivity.
- Treatment with varying concentrations of plant extracts over different time points.
Main Results:
- 100 mg/mL of both extracts killed all tachyzoites in cell-free conditions.
- Lower concentrations (10 mg/mL) showed minimal mortality (4.53%–5.31%) in cell-free assays.
- Effective concentrations (EC50) were 215 μg/mL for A. millefolium and 153 μg/mL for H. perforatum, with selectivities of 0.73 and 0.69, respectively.
Conclusions:
- Neither Achillea millefolium nor Hypericum perforatum extracts exhibited significant inhibitory effects on T. gondii tachyzoites in cell cultures.
- Further research may be needed to explore other mechanisms or concentrations.
