In vitro and in vivo effects of Quillaja saponaria on Blastocystis hominis isolates

Blastocystis hominis is a protozoan parasite that inhabits the human intestinal tract. Various epidemiological surveys have recorded 50-60% prevalence in developing countries. Until now, the most commonly recommended drug is metronidazole [MTZ] which can cause undesirable side effects and failures in treatment. To investigate the in vitro and in viva effects of Quillaja saponaria [QS] against clonal cultures of B. hominis and to demonstrate its implemented ultrastructural changes. Two fresh stool isolates of B. hominis were processed for in vitro cultivation using Jones media. In comparison to MTZ, different concentrations of QS were added to assess its lethal dose; QS [500 micro g] was used to assess programmed cell death for both isolates, using transmission electron microscopy [TEM]. Experimental infection of rats was performed to assess QS induced intestinal histopathological changes as compared to treatment with MTZ. With isolate I. QS [1000 micro g/ml] produced a high significant reduction [P

Evaluation of the nitric oxide activity against Blastocystis hominis in vitro and in vivo

The effect of exogenous nitric oxide [NO] on growth, viability and ultra-structural of B. hominis was assessed in vitro by sodium nitrite [NaNO[2]] in 0.6 mM, 0.8 mM and 1 mM concentrations. The viability of B. hominis was identified using neutral red stain. The role of NO as an endogenous oxidant was assessed by identifying its level in cecum tissue, ileum tissue, blood and stool elutes of mice infected with B. hominis symptomatic human isolates using reactive nitrogen assay compared to control. In vitro study revealed that NaNO[2] inhibited the growth and decreased viability of B. hominis with minimal lethal concentration dose 1 mM on the 4[th] day while, minimal effects were detected with 0.6 and 0.8 mM. Transmission electron microscopy study proved that apoptotic-like features were observed in growing axenic culture of B. hominis upon exposure to NaNO[2]. These changes were not only found on the vacuolar [central body] form but also they were detected on granular, multi-vacuolar and cyst forms. In vivo study proved that high levels of NO were found in infected mice compared to low changes in control group. The high levels were in cecum tissue particularly. The mean levels of NO among infected mice were 211.8 +/- 20.7 micro M in cecum, 90.4 +/- 11.6 micro M in ileum, 60.1 +/- 4.7 micro M in blood and 63.6 +/- 7.3 micro M in stool elutes while, the mean levels of NO in control mice were 70.2 +/- 3.1 in cecum, 67.8 +/- 4.7 micro M in ileum, 30.9 +/- 4.2 micro M in blood and 28.1 +/- 2.9 micro M in stool elutes. The differences were statistically highly significant. NO-donor drugs proved useful in treatment and increase the host resistance to B. hominis

Morphology, histochemistry and infectivity of blastocystis hominis cyst

Different morphological forms of Blastocystis hominis were identified in human stool samples including both cystic and trophic stages. The latter was induced to encyst by keeping them in potassium dichromate solution for two weeks. Suspected of being the infective stage, cysts were studied in more detail as regards their morphology using both light and electron microscopy. Histochemistry and infectivity studies were also carried out