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Potential effects of alpha-pinene, a monoterpene commonly found in essential oils against Toxoplasma gondii infection; an in vitro and in vivo study

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Abstract

This survey designed to assess the in vitro and in vivo activity of α-pinene, a monoterpene commonly originated in essential oils on Toxoplasma gondii. The in vitro effect of various concentration of α-pinene against tachyzoites of T. gondii Rh strain was assessed by MTT (3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. The activity of α-pinene on the stimulation of apoptosis in tachyzoites of T. gondii was also examined using the caspase 3 colorimetric activity assay. In vivo assay, mice were orally received α-pinene at 2 and 4 mg/kg/day for 14 days, then, pre-treated mice were daily tested and the rate of death was recorded. α-pinene meaningfully declined (p < 0.001) the tachyzoites viability with the IC50 value of 23.3 µg/mL. α-pinene induced the apoptosis through increasing the caspase-3 activity by 35.6%. Oral treatment with α-pinene significantly (p < 0.01) improved the survival rate infected mice with by 9th day. α-pinene + atovauone (50 mg/kg) significantly (p < 0.01) improved the survival rate infected mice up to 11 days compared with the control groups. α-pinene especially in combined atovaquone at 50 mg/kg for 2 weeks meaningfully (p < 0.05) declined oxidative stress. We found the promising in vitro anti-Toxoplasma effects of α-pinene on T. gondii RH strain. In addition, we found that α-pinene therapy particularly along with the reference drug declined the mortality rate of infected mice. Although, we just confirmed the stimulation of apoptosis and anti-inflammatory effects as the main anti-Toxoplasma mechanisms of α-pinene; however, more surveys concerning the accurate mechanisms, toxicity, and efficacy on other T. gondii strains are required to confirm these results.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Razi Herbal Medicines Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran

    Ali Kharazmkia, Javad Ghasemian Yadegari & Hossein Mahmoudvand

  2. Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran

    Ali Kharazmkia

  3. Department of Environment, College of Science, University of Al-Qadisiyah, Al-Diwaniyah, Iraq

    Hiba Riyadh Al-Abodi

  4. Student Research Committee, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran

    Ashkan Vahidi

  5. Molecular and Cellular Research Laboratory, School of Allied Medicine, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran

    Hossein Mahmoudvand

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  1. Ali Kharazmkia
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Kharazmkia, A., Al-Abodi, H.R., Yadegari, J.G. et al. Potential effects of alpha-pinene, a monoterpene commonly found in essential oils against Toxoplasma gondii infection; an in vitro and in vivo study. J Parasit Dis 46, 1055–1061 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12639-022-01514-1

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