AUTHOR=Ezzatkhah Fatemeh , Mahmoudvand Hossein , Raziani Yosra 

TITLE=The role of Curcuma longa essential oil in controlling acute toxoplasmosis by improving the immune system and reducing inflammation and oxidative stress

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2023.1161133

DOI=10.3389/fcimb.2023.1161133

ISSN=2235-2988

ABSTRACT=Background: Chemotherapy with synthetic drugs is the principal approach for toxoplasmo-sis treatment; however, recent studies reported the limitations and adverse side effects of these chemical drugs. 
Objective: This study aimed to examine the in vitro and in vivo effects of Curcuma longa essential oil (CLE) against the Toxoplasma gondii RH strain. 
Methods: The in vitro effect of different concentrations of CLE on T. gondii tachyzoites was assessed by the cell viability assay. Flow cytometry and apoptosis analysis and nitrix xide production by CLE was also evaluated in tachyzoites. BALB/c mice were orally treated with various doses (1.25, 2.5, and 5 mg/kg/day) of CLE for 2 weeks. After the induction of acute toxoplasmosis in the mice, their survival rate and the mean number of peritoneal par-asites were checked. The hepatic level of antioxidant enzymes and oxidative stress markers was evaluated by commercial kits. The mRNA expression level of proinflammatory cyto-kines such as IL-1β and IFN-γ was evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR.
Results: CLE, especially at 50 µg/ml, showed potent inhibitory effects on T. gondii tachyzoites. It increased the survival rate (9th day) and reduced the mean number of perito-neal tachyzoites in the infected mice. CLE dependently increased (p < 0.01) the number of necrotic and apoptotic cells as well as NO production. CLE significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the hepatic level of oxidative stress markers but increased (p<0.001) the antioxidant en-zymes and proinflammatory cytokines in the infected mice, with no important toxicity for vital organs. 
Conclusion: The findings of this survey showedrevealed the significant in vitro inhibitory effects of CLE on T. gondii tachyzoites. The results also exhibited the promising in vivo ef-fects of CLE. CLE improved the survival rate of infected mice and reduced the parasite number in them. Although the mechanisms of action of CLE are not clear, our study demon-strated its beneficial effects on acute toxoplasmosis by strengthening the immune system and reducing inflammation and oxidative stress. Still, more studies are required to confirm these results.