Echinacea purpurea and its nano-formulation as antiparasitic agents in experimental cryptosporidiosis

Background: Available therapy options for the worldwide spread cryptosporidiosis are restricted. Although nitazoxanide (NTZ) is the preferred medication, its effectiveness in immunocompromised patients is not recommended. Objective: To assess the effectiveness of Echinacea purpurea alone, or loaded on ZIF-8 nanoparticles in treating immunocompromised mice infected with Cryptosporidium. Materials and Methods: Eighty male Swiss albino mice were immunosuppressed and divided into 8 groups: GI: the negative control group; GII: the positive control group; GIII: infected and given NTZ; GIV: infected and given E. purpurea; GV: infected and given combination of E. purpurea and NTZ; GVI: infected and given NTZ@ZIF-8; GVII: infected and given E. purpurea@ZIF-8; GVIII: infected and given combination of E. purpurea@ZIF-8, and NTZ@ZIF-8. Efficacy was evaluated by stool examination for oocyst shedding on 7th and 14th dpi. After mice sacrifice, intestinal dissection was done for histopathological examination and blood collection for measuring serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Results: The lowest number of Cryptosporidium oocysts shedding, improvement of histopathological features, and almost normal levels of SOD and MDA were observed in mice receiving E. purpurea/NTZ @ZIF-8 nanoparticles followed by mice receiving E. purpurea/NTZ with statistically significant difference when compared with the infected non-treated mice Conclusion: Combining E. purpurea with NTZ is beneficial not only for its anti-Cryptosporidium activity, but also for antioxidant activity. Furthermore, ZIF-8 is an effective delivery system that improved drugs efficiency.