Abstract

Here, we studied in vitro scolicidal effects of Nectaroscordum koelzi (N. koelzi) extract against hydatid cysts protoscoleces. Collected protoscoleces from sheep livers with fertile hydatid cysts were exposed with different concentrations of the extract (62.5-500 mg/mL) for 10-60 min in vitro. Then viability of protoscoleces was evaluated using the eosin exclusion test (0.1 eosin staining). Findings revealed that N. koelzi extract, at the concentrations of 250 and 500 mg/mL completely killed protoscoleces after 10, 20 min of exposure, respectively. The results also indicated that the survival rate of protoscoleces in the negative and positive controls was 95.4 and 0 after 60 and 10 min of exposure, respectively; indicating that N. koelzi extract at all of these concentrations had significantly higher (P < 0.05) protoscolicidal activity than the control group. The findings indicated potential of N. koelzi methanolic extract as a natural source for the producing of new scolicidal agent for use in hydatid cyst surgery.