Effect of Arum rupicola Boiss rupicola Extracts on Visceral Larva Migrans in Mice.

Purpose: In the present study, the effects of leaf and rhizome extracts of Arum rupicola Boiss rupicola were searched on the infective stage Toxocara canis larvae (L3) in the experimentally infected mice.

Methods: Four-six week-old male BALB/c mice were divided into eight groups (G1-8, each group consisted of 7 mice), and they were infected orally with 500 T. canis eggs with L3. After 24 h, the following treatment protocol was applied to the groups for five days: G-1: Albendazole (ABZ) (100 mg/kg), G-2: Leaf Extract (10 mg/mL) + ABZ (100 mg/kg), G-3: Leaf Extract (40 mg/mL) + ABZ (100 mg/kg), G-4: Rhizome Extract + ABZ (100 mg/kg), G-5: Leaf Extract (10 mg/mL), G-6: Leaf Extract (40 mg/mL), G-7: Rhizome extract, G-8: Negative control. The necropsy was performed on the 45th day of experimental infection.

Results: The rhizome extract significantly reduced the effectiveness of ABZ compared to leaf extracts. The number of larvae in rhizome extract-treated mice (G7) was similar to ABZ-treated mice (G1) (P < 0.05). The larval number in mice administered leaf extract (10 mg/mL and 40 mg/mL) was slightly decreased. But no significant difference was detected in the larval number depending on the dose of leaf extracts (P > 0.05).

Conclusion: The administration of the leaf and rhizome extracts did not contribute to the effectiveness of ABZ. Also the effect of ABZ on the larvae number obtained from the tissues was reduced by the rhizome extract. The larvae number in the group in which rhizome extract was given alone was almost close to the group in which ABZ was administered. The results provide insight for further research on the antiparasitic properties of A. rupicola Boiss rupicola rhizome extract.