Antiparasitic Effects of Asteraceae Species Extracts on Echinococcus granulosus s.s

Cystic echinococcosis is a zoonotic disease caused by the parasite Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (s.l.), which is worldwide distributed and causes long-lasting infections in animals and humans. The existing treatment is limited to the use of benzimidazoles, mainly albendazole (ABZ). However, it has unwanted side effects and its efficacy is about 50%. The Asteraceae family includes plants that have therapeutic applications (medicinal species) and has an important role in new drug development. The species belonging to a different genus of this family show a wide range of anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, and antiparasitic activities, among others. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the in vitro efficacy of extracts of four Asteraceae species against protoscoleces of E. granulosus sensu stricto (s.s.). On the other hand, the Stevia aristata extract was assessed on the murine cyst of E. granulosus (s.s.) and the efficacy of S. aristata extract was investigated in a murine model of CE. Stevia satureiifolia, S. aristata, Grindelia pulchella, and G. chiloensis extracts at 100 μg/mL caused a decrease in protoscoleces viability; however, S. aristata extract produced the greatest in vitro protoscolicidal effect. After 20 days of treatment with the highest concentration (100 μg/mL) of S. aristata extract, protoscoleces viability decreased to 0%. The tegumental changes observed by scanning electron microscopy were consistent with the reduction in vitality. The collapse of the germinal layer was registered in 60 ± 5.8% and 83.3 ± 12.0% of cysts treated during 4 days with 50 and 100 μg/ml, respectively. The half maximal effective concentration (EC50) value of the S. aristata extract against E. granulosus (s.s.) cysts was 47.86 μg/mL (96 h). The dosage of infected animals with the 50 mg kg(−1) dose of S. aristata extract resulted in a significant reduction in cyst weight in comparison with the control group. In conclusion, S. aristata extract was demonstrated to exert a marked effect, both in vitro and in the murine model.