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Wheat Germ Oil and Propolis Decrease Parasite Burden and Restore Marked Histopathological Changes in Liver and Lung
Ashraf Mohamed Barakat1, Hassan Ali Mohamed El Fadaly1, Ahmed Gareh2
1Department of Zoonotic Diseases, National Research Centre, El Buhouth St., Dokki, Giza 12622, Egypt.
Abstract:
Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic zoonotic disease with a worldwide distribution. Its effects can be critical in immunocompromised patients. However, there is a limited availability of effective, low-toxicity drugs against this disease, particularly in its chronic form. The present study evaluated the effect of propolis and wheat germ oil (WGO) as safe, natural products to reduce Toxoplasma cysts in experimentally infected mice. For the experiment, five groups (10 mice per group) were examined: Group 1: negative control (noninfected, nontreated); Group 2: positive control (infected, nontreated); Group 3: infected and treated with WGO at a dose of 0.2 mg/1.5 mL per kg body weight/day; Group 4: infected and treated with 0.1 mL propolis extract/day; and Group 5: infected and treated with a combination of WGO and propolis at the same doses as Group 3 and 4. After the mice were sacrificed, liver and lung specimens underwent histopathological examination, and the parasite burden was investigated by parasitological methods and quantified using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Notably, the results showed a substantial decrease in parasitic burden in Group 5 compared to the control group. These results were further confirmed by molecular analysis and quantification of the DNA concentration of the Toxoplasma P29 gene after treatment in all tested samples. Furthermore, the combination of propolis and WGO restored all histopathological changes in the liver and lungs. Taken together, these findings provide remarkably promising evidence of the effects of the combination of WGO and propolis against chronic toxoplasmosis in mice.
Insights
This study shows that a combination of propolis and wheat germ oil (WGO) significantly reduced Toxoplasma cysts in mice with chronic toxoplasmosis. This natural remedy offers a promising, low-toxicity treatment option.
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.
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