The Effect of Bitter Olive Plant Extract (Melia azedarach) and Crocin on Mice with Hydatid Cyst

Hydatid cyst is one of the most important common diseases between humans and animals. In the present study, the therapeutic effect of Melia azedarach seed extract and Crocin on a mouse model infected with hydatid cysts was investigated in vitro and in vivo conditions. In vitro study 0.1% eosin staining method was used. In vivo study, 30 female laboratory mice were infected with hydatid cysts by intraperitoneal injection of 0.5 ml of liquid containing 2000 protoscolex. One week after the injection, the mice were randomly divided into 5 treatment groups of 6 in separate cages. These groups include 1- control group (without any type of treatment), 2- Albendazole group (Albendazole dose 75 mg/kg), 3- Melia azedarach group (100 microliter Melia azedarach extract), 4- Crocin group (100 mg/ml crocin), 5- Melia azedarach - Crocin group (a mixture of Melia azedarach extract and Crocin). 140 days after the treatment, the desired tests were performed. In vitro investigation of the lethal effect of the pure Melia azedarach extract on protoscolexes showed that after 15 and 60 minutes of incubation, 60 and 80% of protoscolexes are destroyed, respectively. The results of in vivo tests also showed that in the groups treated with Crocin, Melia azedarach, and Melia azedarach-Crocin, the number, weight, and size of hydatid cysts were significantly reduced compared to the control. In addition, the examination of liver biochemical factors showed the most significant lethal effect of hydatid cyst in the groups treated with Melia azedarach and Melia azedarach-Crocin compared to the group treated with the anti-parasitic drug Albendazole and control.