Background: Drug resistance to Albendazole (ALB) is common in treatment of trichinosis. Propolis
proved an effective safe new therapy for treatment of several parasitic diseases.
Objective: To evaluate the effect of Egyptian propolis ethanolic extract on T. spiralis adult and muscle
larva in vitro and in vivo.
Material and Methods: The in vitro study utilized adult worms and muscle larvae and included GI
(control group), GII (propolis group), and GIII (drug combination group). Parameters used for evaluation
were mortality rate and cuticle ultrastructural changes. The in vivo study utilized four groups of 160
mice that included GI (control group), GII (propolis group), GIII (drug combination group), and GIV
(prophylactic group). Total adult and larval burden in intestine and muscles, biochemical, histopathology,
and immunohistochemistry assessments were conducted.
Results: In a dose and time-dependent manner, propolis extract showed potent lethal effect on both
adult and muscle larva during in vitro 24 h culture with LD90 of 2.58 mg/ml and 58 mg/ml, respectively.
Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that propolis extract exerted detrimental cuticle changes of
adults and larvae. In vivo results showed a statistically significant reduction in the mean adult and larval
burden, marked improvement of biochemical parameters, reduced inflammation, and fibrosis in intestinal
and muscle specimens with lowered pro-apoptotic Bcl-2-associated X (BAX) protein expression especially
when combined with ALB. Compared to propolis group, there was more reduction of the mean adult and
larval burden in the prophylactic group with marked improvement of biochemical parameters, reduced
inflammation and fibrosis in intestinal and muscle tissues.
Conclusion: Propolis extract is a promising prophylactic and effective anthelminthic alternative.