e ect of alhagi maurorum hydroalcoholic extract on preventing secondary hydatid cysts in balb/c mice

Background: surgery is the main treatment for hydatid cyst disease, during which the spillage of live protoscoleces is a major cause of hydatidosis recurrence. scolicidal agents are used to prevent this problem. however, they may have some unpleasant side e ects. objectives: this study assessed the scolicidal e ects of alhagi maurorum hydroalcoholic extract on developing secondary cysts in balb/c mice infected with echinococcus granulosus parasites.methods: balb/c mice were inoculated intraperitoneally with viable protoscoleces. one month after the infection, the mice were randomly divided into 4 groups (7 per group). group 1 (control group) was orally administered pbs daily. group 2 was orally administered albendazole daily (150 mg/kg). group 3 was orally administered alhagi maurorum hydroalcoholic extract daily (500 mg/kg). group 4 was orally administered alhagi maurorum hydroalcoholic extract daily (250 mg/kg). after 6 weeks of treatment, the weight (g), size (mm), number, and fertility of hydatid cysts were measured after the euthanasia and necropsy of all mice. results: the weight (g), size (mm), and the number of cysts was significantly lower in the groups receiving 500 mg/kg alhagi maurorum hydroalcoholic extract, 250 mg/kg alhagi maurorum hydroalcoholic extract, and 150 mg/kg albendazole than in the control group (p < 0.05). the fertility percentage of hydatid cysts did not show a significant di erence between the four groups (p > 0.05). moreover, there were no statistically significant di erences in the parasitological parameters between the three groups: alhagi maurorum hydroalcoholic extract 500 mg/kg, alhagi maurorum hydroalcoholic extract 250 mg/kg, and albendazole 150 mg/kg (p > 0.05).conclusions: the findings demonstrated the e ect of alhagi maurorum hydroalcoholic extract against protoscoleces in balb/c mice. however, cellular and molecular research should be carried out to gain a deeper understanding of the various e ects of this extract on hydatid cysts.