Origanum vulgare Essential Oil Demonstrates In Vivo and In Silico Activity Against a Mouse Nematode Syphacia obvelata (Rudolphi, 1802)

Oxyurid nematode infections are common in animals and often recurrent, necessitating the development of new anthelmintic agents. Origanum vulgare L. subsp. hirtum essential oil (OEO) was evaluated for its nematocidal effects against the Syphacia obvelata nematode in naturally infected mice. Mice received oral OEO at 300 and 600 mg/kg doses, with egg counts monitored via the perianal tape method. Gas chromatography identified carvacrol (84.0%) as the dominant compound, while in silico docking revealed β-caryophyllene exhibited strong binding affinities to β-tubulin and carnitine palmitoyltransferase 2, key nematode drug targets. OEO treatment significantly reduced parasite egg counts by up to 98% at 7 days post-treatment, with sustained effects at 14 days. These findings suggest that OEO, particularly β-caryophyllene, possesses promising anthelmintic activity against oxyurid nematodes, as a preliminary study. Further studies are warranted to explore its therapeutic potential and mechanisms of action.