Abstract :

The scolicidal agents used to inactivate the protoscoleces through the surgery of hydatid cyst still producedetrimental side effects. The aim of this study was to find out the in vitro scolicidal effects achievable by Rutagraveolens methanol extract against the hydatid cysts protoscoleces. The cytotoxic activity of this plant alsowas evaluated against fibroblast cells. The yielded extract obtained by methanol extraction of aerial parts of R.graveolens was about 23.51%%w/w on dry weight basis. The results of this study showed that the methanolextract of R. graviolens produce phenolic compounds (25.53±0.49), flavonoids (6.66±0.31) and tannins(8.035±0.049), which greatly reflects their potential as antioxidants. The scolicidal impact of 40 mg/ml of R.graveolens extract after exposure time of 120 minutes showed very significant efficacy (P<0.05) ofapproximately 5-fold of what was obtained at the same period through using the standard drug (ABZ). Themaximum scolicidal impact with 20 mg/mL ABZ as control group was approximately 50% at the longest periodof exposure, 720 min. Nevertheless, all the extract concentrations used resulted in a 100% killing (P <0.05) at720 min, indicating that the concentration and exposure time were inversely related to the effect on theviability of the protoscolices. It was found that the use of R. graveolens extract at a concentration of 100 mg/mlexhibited very low cytotoxicity against the fibroblast with IC50 values of 65.78 mg/ml. Hence, the significantdeadly effects on protoscoleces unravel a novel antihydatic activity of this plant.