Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 19, 2025
Transient Transduction of the Strobilated Forms of Echinococcus granulosus
Published on: September 16, 2022
In Vitro Effects of Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) Seed Extracts on Echinococcus granulosus Protoscoleces
Zahra Hesari1, Meysam Sharifdini2, Mohammad Kazem Sharifi-Yazdi3,4
1Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
Background:
Echinococcus granulosus parasite causes a zoonotic disease which is important for public and veterinary health. Since pumpkin seeds (Cucurbita sp.) are used as traditional vermifuge in Iran, they may be a potential herbal anthelmintic.
Methods:
This study was designed in 2016 to evaluate the in vitro scolicidal effect of Cucurbita moschata seeds form northern part of Iran. Hydroalcoholic and petroleum ether extracts were prepared by maceration and soxhlet respectively. Both extracts with four different concentrations (100, 10, 1, 0.1 mg/ml) were incubated against protoscoleces in 5, 15, 30 and 60 min.
Results:
Maximum mortality was 16% with 1% hydroalcoholic extract in 60 min. The highest mortality with organic extract was 4% with 10% concentration in 60 min (P=0.015).
Conclusion:
Since highest mortality was 16%, the extract did not reach to LD50 (50% mortality). Therefore, the potency of the total extract is not sufficient as potential scolicidal drug.
