NIGELLA SATIVA LOADED PLGA NANOPARTICLES: A PROMISING ALTERNATIVE THERAPEUTIC AGENT AGAINST CHRONIC SCHISTOSOMIASIS MANSONI

ABD EL-LAAH, AMANY ABD EL-RAHEEM; MARGHANY, MOHAMED ESSA; EL-SAWY, NAGWA MOHAMED; OSMAN, HESHAM EBRAHIM

doi:10.21608/jesp.2025.447399

NIGELLA SATIVA LOADED PLGA NANOPARTICLES: A PROMISING ALTERNATIVE THERAPEUTIC AGENT AGAINST CHRONIC SCHISTOSOMIASIS MANSONI

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Sohag University, Sohag, Egypt

² Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Assuit University, Egypt

³ Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Sohag University, Egypt

⁴ Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Sohag University, Egypt.

10.21608/jesp.2025.447399

Abstract

Praziquantel (PZQ) alone didn't improve histopathological damage of chronic schistosomia-
sis. Nigella sativa decreased the egg granuloma severity and histopathological changes in
schistosomiasis. PLGA is regarded as an ideal polymer for drug delivery systems.
This study evaluated the effect of NSO, NSO-loaded PLGA nanoparticles alone and combined
with PZQ on egg granuloma histopathology in S. mansoni Swiss Albino mice
A total of 48 mice were divided into 6 groups of 8 mice each: Control negative: neither infected
nor treated; control positive: infected and not treated; NSO mice: treated with NSO; NP1 mice: tr
eated with NSO/PLGANPs; NP2 mice: treated with a half dose of NSO/ PLGANPs; and NPP
mice: treated with PZQ and half dose of NSO/PLGANPs. All mice were sacrificed for histopa-
thological evaluation of Liver egg granuloma number and diameter, oogram pattern, type and
state of egg granuloma in all mice groups
The results showed that NPP mice caused highest number of dead ova (91.63±1.41) follo
wed by NP1 mice (14.88±2.03). Also, it caused the highest reduction in number (72.92%)
and diameter (42.01%) of egg granuloma, followed by NP1 mice (67.53% & 34.42% respec-
tively). The fibro-cellular granuloma was markedly increased from 15% in control positive to
63% & 43% in NPP & NP1 mice respectively. NPP mice showed the highest number of dead
eggs (58%) than NP1 ones (28%) as compared to other groups and hydrobic hepatocytes de
generation was improved in all treated mice, with fewer inflammatory infiltrates in the liver.

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