The Therapeutic Effect of Flavone on the Muscular Phase of Trichinella spiralis Infection in a Murine Model.

Introduction: Trichinellosis is a parasitic disease caused by Trichinella spiralis. The recommended treatments, Mebendazole or Albendazole, have many side effects that can hardly eliminate encysted larvae. Flavone, a plant-derived compound, has shown promising anti-parasitic, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties, offering a natural and safer alternative. Objective: The current study aims to evaluate the potential therapeutic effect of Flavone alone and in combination with Mebendazole on the muscular phase of Trichinella spiralis infection in experimentally infected mice. Material and methods: The study was performed on 20 Swiss-albino mice divided into Group-I, a healthy control; Group-II, infected-untreated; Group-III, infected and Mebendazole-treated; Group-IV, infected and Flavone-treated; and Group-V, infected and Flavone+ Mebendazole-treated. Drugs assessment was done on day 35 post-infection (PI) and involved counting of the encysted larvae and the histopathological evaluation of the muscle specimens. Results: Mebendazole + Flavone-treated mice recorded significant reductions in the mean counts of the encysted larva with percentage of reduction (efficacy) 94.53% followed by the Flavone-treated mice (83.95%). Yet, the efficacy of Mebendazole in treated mice was 74.13%, P value < 0.05. The nurse cell length and inflammatory cell counts recorded the least values in the Mebendazole + Flavone-treated mice followed by the Flavone-treated group compared to their values in Group-II and Group-III. Conclusions: Flavone seemed to be an effective and safe alternative to Mebendazole. Nevertheless, mebendazole + Flavone revealed more promising results against T. spiralis infections than sole therapies.