In Vitro Evaluation of Methanolic Extracts of Urtica dioica and Melissa officinalis as Scolicidal Agents Against Hydatid Cyst Protoscoleces

Cystic Echinococcosis is a zoonotic infection that causes complications such as cyst rupture and secondary infections, requiring effective scolicidal agents. Due to adverse reactions and toxicity of current treatments, new plant-derived SA are needed. This study evaluates the scolicidal effects of methanolic extracts of Urtica dioica and Melissa officinalis in vitro. Leaves were dried, ground, soaked in methanol, filtered, and concentrated. protoscoleces of Echinococcus granulosus were isolated from an infected sheep's liver and assessed for viability using eosin staining. The efficacy of plant extracts was tested at concentrations of 50, 100, and 200 mg/ml for 15, 30, 45, 60, and 120 minutes. Positive controls were 70% ethanol and 20% sodium chloride; 0.9% normal saline served as the negative control. Results showed that 70% ethanol and 20% sodium chloride had a lethal effect of 86-100%. Urtica extract had a 22-72% lethal effect at 200 mg/ml, 8-40% at 100 mg/ml, and 7-32% at 50 mg/ml. Melissa extract had a 37-95% lethal effect at 200 mg/ml, 16-52% at 100 mg/ml, and 12-37% at 50 mg/ml. The results showed that the protoscolexicidal activity of methanol extracts increased with time. The methanol extract of lemon balm at a concentration of 200 mg/ml killed 95% of protoscoleces in 120 minutes, while the nettle extract at the same concentration killed 72% of protoscoleces in the same period. Therefore, the methanol extract of lemon balm can be utilized as a potent protoscolexicidal agent.