Dual anti-parasitic and immune-modulatory role of Eugenol in experimental trichinellosis: A Comparative study with Albendazole

Bakr, Lamia; Dar, Yasser A.; El Mehlawy, Mostafa H.; El Ghannam, Mai

doi:10.21608/BBJ.2025.324420.1083

Dual anti-parasitic and immune-modulatory role of Eugenol in experimental trichinellosis: A Comparative study with Albendazole

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Egypt.

10.21608/BBJ.2025.324420.1083

Abstract

Trichinella spiralis is a worm that causes trichinellosis, a neglected zoonotic disease acquired by eating undercooked pork. Albendazole (ABZ) is the preferred medication for treating trichinellosis, however its effectiveness is restricted during the muscular phase. It is also necessary to find alternate therapies because ABZ has the potential to be harmful. Clove oil contains a phenolic component called Eugenol (EUG), has demonstrated as anti-inflammatory and anti-parasitic agent. The purpose of this study was to assess the in vivo effectiveness of EUG versus ABZ treatment in experimentally T.spiralis infected mice. After being infected with T. spiralis, 80 Swiss albino mice were split into two groups and given either ABZ or EUG for the duration of the infection's intestinal and muscular phases. Analysis was done using parasitological, biochemical, histological, and immunohistochemical methods. The results demonstrated that while ABZ treatment was more effective during the muscular phase, EUG therapy dramatically decreased the adult worm burden in the intestinal phase more than ABZ. Serum levels of IL-4 and IL-10 were considerably reduced by both ABZ and EUG treatments; however, in the early phases of infection, EUG showed a stronger suppression of inflammatory markers. EUG's anti-inflammatory and tissue-preserving properties were validated by histological results, and decreased TNF-α expression in muscle tissue. In conclusion, treatment with EUG showed both immunomodulatory and anti-parasitic properties, which lessen tissue changes and the parasite load. These results imply that EUG may be used as an adjuvant or natural therapeutic substitute for ABZ in the treatment of trichinellosis.

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