Wheat Germ Oil and Propolis Decrease Parasite Burden and Restore Marked Histopathological Changes in Liver and Lung...

Area of Science:

• Parasitology
• Natural Product Chemistry
• Immunology

Background:

• Toxoplasmosis is a widespread parasitic zoonotic disease.
• Effective, low-toxicity treatments for chronic toxoplasmosis are limited, especially for immunocompromised individuals.
• Natural products like propolis and wheat germ oil (WGO) show potential for therapeutic use.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of propolis and WGO, individually and in combination, in reducing *Toxoplasma* cysts in a mouse model of chronic toxoplasmosis.
• To assess the safety and restorative effects of these natural products on infected tissues.

Main Methods:

• Experimentally infected mice were divided into five groups: control (uninfected/untreated), infected/untreated, infected/treated with WGO, infected/treated with propolis, and infected/treated with a combination of WGO and propolis.
• Parasite burden was assessed using parasitological methods, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for *Toxoplasma* P29 gene quantification, and histopathological examination of liver and lung tissues.

Main Results:

• The combination of propolis and WGO significantly decreased the parasitic burden in infected mice compared to control groups.
• Molecular analysis confirmed a substantial reduction in *Toxoplasma* DNA concentration after treatment.
• Histopathological examination revealed that the combination therapy restored normal tissue structure in the liver and lungs.

Conclusions:

• The combination of propolis and wheat germ oil demonstrates significant efficacy against chronic toxoplasmosis in mice.
• These natural products represent a promising, safe, and low-toxicity therapeutic strategy for managing *Toxoplasma* infections.
• Further research into this combination therapy for toxoplasmosis is warranted.