Background: Possible association between toxoplasmosis, and chronic diseases, e.g., hypertension
(HTN) and diabetes mellitus (DM) are not uncommon. Therefore, searching for a new, safe, alternative
and efficient natural product to treat toxoplasmosis in patients complaining of hypertension or diabetes
is critically needed.
Objective: To investigate the potential prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy of berberine on chronic
toxoplasmosis in diabetic, and hypertensive mice compared to Spiramycin©.
Material and Methods: A total number of 77 mice were divided into normal (n.=7), hypertensive
(n.=35) and diabetic (n.=35) mice. Hypertension and type 1 diabetes were induced by 8% NaCl, and
2% Alloxan monohydrate, respectively. Both hypertensive, and diabetic mice were subdivided into five
equal subgroups: control, berberine-prophylactic, Spiramycin©-treated, berberine-treated, and combined
treatment (berberine and Spiramycin©). Berberine efficacy was assessed using parasitological and
histopathological parameters.
Results: Parasitological assessment showed that all treated subgroups showed a statistically significant
reduction in the median tissue cysts count compared to infected control subgroups. Combined (berberine
and Spiramycin©) showed the highest reduction rates of cysts count in both hypertensive and diabetic
subgroups. For the prophylactic potential efficacy, berberine showed the least reduction rate in tissue cyst
count in both hypertensive and diabetic subgroups. Histopathological assessment demonstrated moderate
to marked improvement of brain, spleen and kidney inflammatory changes in all treated subgroups, the
highest was recorded in the combined treated subgroups.
Conclusion: Berberine is a promising adjuvant in treating toxoplasmosis associated with chronic diseases
including diabetes mellitus and hypertension.