In vitro effects of Artemisia sieberi on Echinococcus granulosus protoscolices

Hydatidosis is a parasitic zoonotic disease. Surgery is one of its treatment modalities during which protoscolices are likely to be released into the peritoneal cavity and cause recurrence of the disease. Given the above problem and the complications associated with conventional anti-parasitic agents, it is imperative to find an effective and natural protoscolicidal agent. The present study was conducted to evaluate effects of Artemisia sieberi on Echinococcus granulosus protoscolices. Protoscolices were collected from slaughtered livestock in Kerman abattoir and the effect of three concentrations of aqueous extract of A. sieberi (25 mg ml^-1, 50 mg ml^-1 and 75 mg ml^-1) was assessed over three different exposure periods. Results showed that scolicidal effect of this extract at exposure periods of 2, 5 and 10 min was 76 ± 1.4, 76.8 ± 1.41 and 85.7 ± 3.29 percent at concentration of 25 mg ml^-1 and 76.8 ± 1.4, 78 ± 3.18 and 86.4 ± 24.9 percent at concentration of 50 mg ml^-1 and finally 80 ± 2.73, 90 ± 0.79 and 92.6 ± 1.27 percent at concentration of 75 mg ml^-1, respectively. It can be concluded that the aqueous extract of A. sieberi has a protoscolicidal activity and can be considered a natural agent against hydatid cyst protoscolices.