In vitro study of the scolicidal effects of Echinometra mathaei spine and shell extracts on hydatid cyst protoscolices.

Hydatid cyst is a zoonotic parasitic infection caused by the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus. Such infections are of considerable public health and economic concern, and new effective treatments are intensely sought. Sea urchin (Salmacis virgulata) shell extracts have potent antimicrobial and antioxidant activity, and spines of several species of echinoderms also show antimicrobial activity. In the present in vitro study, we investigated the scolicidal effect of spines and shells extractions from Echinometra mathaei obtained from the Persian Gulf. Spines and shells from the sea urchin, Echinometra mathaei were used in the tests. Spines and shells from 800 specimens were extracted with dibasic sodium phosphate buffer (pH 7.5). Procedures used protoscolices of E. granulosus were obtained aseptically from hydatid cyst in naturally infected sheep's liver and goats and viable protoscolices exposed with spine and shell extractions. The apoptosis was assessed by measuring the caspase 3 activity of the extract-treated protoscolices, using ELISA-based commercial kits to determine caspase activity. The scolicidal effects of shells were also showed, 20 μg/ml of shell extracts after 60 min exposure, the viability of protoscolices were 21.99 ± 0.01. The results showed that 20 μg/ml of spines gave maximum scolicidal activity (p < 0.05). This study represents the first attempt at combatting echinoid parasites by natural compounds with high efficiency, and may provide a base for future treatment of hydatid cysts.