Therapeutic effects of zinc nanoparticles green synthesized by Ferula macercolea extract against chronic toxoplasmosis in mice.

Objectives: The present study aimed to green synthesize and characterize the zinc nanoparticles (ZNP) and evaluate its potency to control Toxoplasma gondii infection in mice by stimulating the immune system, antioxidant activity, and anti-inflammatory effects.

Methods: By in vivo, T. gondii infected mice were orally treated by ZNP (5-20 mg/kg) for 14 days. The number and size of tissue cysts, oxidant-antioxidant enzymes, the expression of inflammatory cytokines, apoptotic, and pathogenicity-related factors were evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Results: ZNP ranged in size from 10-70 nm with an average size of 45.7±19.4 nm. ZNP treatment resulted in a significant reduction in the number and size of tissue cysts (p<0.05). The oral administration of infected mice with ZNP caused a considerable decrease in malondialdehyde levels and a marked increase (p<0.001) in the activity of the antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase. ZNP administration triggered a significant reduction in the expression levels of the genes of interleukin-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, nuclear factor kappa B, bradyzoite antigen-1, and B-cell lymphoma-2. Conversely, there was an increase in the expression levels of the genes of IL-10, Serpin A3k, caspase-3, and Bcl-2-associated X protein (P < 0.001).

Conclusion: In summary, the recent investigation illustrated that ZNP demonstrates promising in vivo effects against T. gondii infection in mice. These effects are ascribed to its antioxidant properties, anti-inflammatory characteristics through the inhibition the specific inflammatory cytokines, and its ability to inhibit pathogenicity in mice without any observable signs of toxicity.