Background: Cystic echinococcosis is a frequent worldwide disease. Surgery is the main policy of
treatment. The benzimidazoles are the drugs of choice as adjuvant therapy besides surgery, but they have
some drawbacks, so there is a pressing need to develop other safe and cheap drugs such as an herbal
extract.
Objectives: To increase the efficacy of Nigella sativa oil (NSO) administered either as monotherapy or
combined with albendazole, and using chitosan nanoparticles as a drug delivery system for both drugs.
Material and Methods: E. granulosus protoscoleces were obtained by aseptic puncture of hydatid
cysts. Mice infected by intraperitoneal inoculation with nearly 1000 protoscoleces per mouse were
subdivided into 7 groups: G2, infected non-treated; G3, treated with albendazole; G4, treated with NSO;
G5, treated with NSO and albendazole; G6, treated with albendazole loaded on chitosan nanoparticles;
G7, treated with NSO loaded on chitosan nanoparticles; G8, treated with albendazole and NSO loaded on
chitosan nanoparticles. G1 included the non-infected, non-treated control mice. Serum was collected for
biochemical and serological assay. NO was measured according to nitric oxide assay colorimetric kit. The
systemic level of TNF-α and IL-5 was determined in the plasma of mice using commercial enzyme-linked
immunosorbent assay kits.
Results: The results revealed that a significant increase of IL-5 occurred in all treated groups to reach the
highest value in G8. There was a significant decrease of TNF-α in all treated groups in comparison to G1
and G2 (P<0.001). Mean level of nitric oxide (NO) was significantly increased in groups loaded on chitosan
nanoparticles in comparison to G2.
Conclusion: Nigella sativa oil showed a promising effect on CE when used alone or in combination with
albendazole and its effect was augmented when loaded on chitosan nanoparticles.