Background: Available therapy options for the worldwide spread cryptosporidiosis are restricted.
Although nitazoxanide (NTZ) is the preferred medication, its effectiveness in immunocompromised
patients is not recommended.
Objective: To assess the effectiveness of Echinacea purpurea alone, or loaded on ZIF-8 nanoparticles (NPs)
in treating immunocompromised mice infected with Cryptosporidium spp.
Material and Methods: Eighty male Swiss albino mice were immunosuppressed and divided into 8 groups:
GI: the negative control group; GII: the positive control group; GIII: infected and given NTZ; GIV: infected
and given E. purpurea; GV: infected and given combination of E. purpurea and NTZ; GVI: infected and
given NTZ@ZIF-8; GVII: infected and given E. purpurea@ZIF-8; GVIII: infected and given combination of E.
purpurea@ZIF-8, and NTZ@ZIF-8. Efficacy was evaluated by stool examination for oocyst shedding on 7th
and 14th dpi. Blood was collected for measuring serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde
(MDA). After mice sacrifice, intestinal dissection was performed for histopathological examination.
Results: The lowest number of Cryptosporidium oocysts shedding, improvement of histopathological
features, and almost normal levels of SOD and MDA were observed in mice receiving E. purpurea/NTZ@
ZIF-8 NPs followed by mice receiving E. purpurea/NTZ with statistically significant difference when
compared with the infected non-treated mice.
Conclusion: Combining E. purpurea with NTZ is beneficial not only for its anti-Cryptosporidium activity,
but also for antioxidant activity. Furthermore, ZIF-8 is an effective potent delivery system that improved
drugs efficiency.