Daflon illuminates a novel avenue in treating acute toxoplasmosis: An experimental study

Despite the effectiveness of commercially available medications for toxoplasmosis, several challenges exist, including side effects and the emergence of resistance. Hence, exploring the therapeutic value of commercially available alternatives would be a promising objective. Daflon (DAF), a flavonoid market-available drug, is gaining interest as a repurposed multifunctional drug with antibacterial and antiparasitic potency. Being a phosphodiesterase, cyclooxygenase, and prostaglandin inhibitor raises the prospect of expanding Daflon's scale as an anti-Toxoplasma gondii drug. Thirty-six mice were infected intraperitoneally with 2500 T. gondii tachyzoites and divided into three groups: the untreated control, Septrin-treated, and Daflon-treated; 12 mice each. Six mice from each group were euthanized on day 7 post-infection, while the others were used to monitor survival. Peritoneal and hepatic tachyzoites were counted, and the former were subjected to scanning electron microscopic examination. Results showed that DAF significantly prolonged the survival time of T. gondii-infected mice. It induced 88.84% and 78.65% reduction in peritoneal and hepatic tachyzoite counts, respectively, with remarkable tachyzoite morphological alterations. DAF significantly suppressed serum CRP, TNF-α, IL-6 levels, and liver MDA, compared with Septrin. Furthermore, DAF ameliorated hepatic pathological changes, resulting in a significant reduction in the number of inflammatory foci and restoration of normal hepatic architecture. DAF demonstrated efficacy towards acute experimental toxoplasmosis, with potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capability, while targeting tachyzoite replicability and morphology. The potential synergistic effect of DAF with Septrin is worthy of investigation.