Schistosomicidal and hepatoprotective activity of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) alone or combined with praziquantel against Schistosoma mansoni infection in murine model

Exp Parasitol. 2022 Jul:238:108260. doi: 10.1016/j.exppara.2022.108260. Epub 2022 Apr 18.

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) alone or combined with praziquantel (PZQ) against Schistosoma (S) mansoni infection in a murine model.

Methods: Five groups, 8 mice each, were studied; GI served as normal controls; GII: S. mansoni-infected control group and the other three S. mansoni-infected groups received drug regimens for 5 consecutive days as follows GIII: Infected-PZQ treated group (200 mg/kg/day); GIV: Infected-GABA treated group (300 mg/kg/day) and GV: Infected-PZQ-GABA treated group (100 mg/kg/day for each drug). All animal groups were sacrificed two weeks later and different parasitological, histopathological and biochemical parameters were assessed.

Results: Combined GABA-PZQ treated group recorded the highest significant reduction in all parasitological, histopathological and biochemical parameters followed by PZQ and finally GABA groups. Combined GABA-PZQ treatment led to the complete disappearance of immature eggs and marked reduction of deposited eggs in liver tissues and improved liver pathology. Significant improvement in hepatic oxidative stress levels, serum albumin and total protein in response to GABA treatment alone or combined with PZQ.

Conclusion: GABA had schistosomicidal, hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities against S. mansoni infection, GABA disrupted parasite pairing and activity, reduced the total number of worms recovered and the number of ova in the tissues. GABA may be considered an adjuvant therapy to potentiate PZQ antiparasitic activity and eradicate infection-induced liver damage and oxidative stress.

Keywords: GABA; Granuloma diameter; Granuloma number; Oxidative stress; Praziquantel; Schistosoma mansoni.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anthelmintics* / pharmacology
  • Anthelmintics* / therapeutic use
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Liver / parasitology
  • Mice
  • Praziquantel / pharmacology
  • Praziquantel / therapeutic use
  • Schistosoma mansoni
  • Schistosomiasis mansoni* / pathology
  • Schistosomicides* / pharmacology
  • Schistosomicides* / therapeutic use
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Anthelmintics
  • Schistosomicides
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
  • Praziquantel