Evaluating the effect of Myrtus communis on programmed cell death in hydatid cyst protoscolices.

Objective: To evaluate the possible involvement of programmed cell death strategy in hydatid cyst protoscolices following treatment with Myrtus communis (M. communis) as an herbal medicine.

Methods: Protoscolices were aseptically collected from sheep liver hydatid cysts.

Evaluation of proliferation and cytokines production by mitogen-stimulated bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

This in vitro study was conducted to evaluate lymphocyte blastogenic and cytokine production by bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) stimulated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA), pokeweed mitogen (PWM) and concanavalin A (Con A) mitogens, by using tetrazolium salt and ELISA tests, respectively. The results presented that Interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-17 and IFN-γ production in response to PWM mitogens was the highest and Con A the lowest amount and the median values of three mitogens were in the following order: PWM > PHA > Con A > cell control. In the case of IL-6, the production of this cytokine was the same amount for PWM and Con A and a lower amount for PHA stimulation.