| Abstract: Cystic hydatid disease (CHD) is a zoonotic disease with different clinical stages caused
by the larval stage of the cestode Echinococcus granulosus. It is important to highlight as a public
health problem in various regions of the world. In the current study, the efficacy and apoptotic
activity of the liposomal system containing juglone (5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone) were assessed
against protoscoleces (PSCs) in vitro. To this aim, firstly, liposomal vesicles were prepared by the
thin-film method. Their physico-chemical features were assessed using Zeta-Sizer and Scanning
Electron Microscope (SEM). Subsequently, various concentrations (50, 100, 200, 400, and 800 g/mL)
of juglone nanoliposomes at different exposure times (15, 30, 60, and 120 min) were used against
PSCs. Results showed that juglone nanoliposomes at all tested concentrations induced scolicidal
effect, however, 800 g/mL and 400 g/mL of juglone nanoliposomes could reach 100% mortality in
60 and 120 min, respectively. Additionally, we found that caspase-3 mRNA expression was higher in
PSCs treated with juglone nanoliposomes compared to control groups (p < 0.001). Therefore, juglone
nanoliposomes are suggested to have a more potent apoptotic effect on PSCs. Generally, optimized
doses of juglone nanoliposomes could display significant scolicidal effects. Moreover, further in vivo
studies are required to evaluate the efficacy of this nanoliposome. |