Antiparasitic Effects of Heracleum persicum and Foeniculum vulgare (Fruit) Essential Oils on Experimental Toxoplasmosis (In Vitro and In Vivo)

Background and purpose: There are few treatment options available for treatment of toxoplasmosis and effective drugs have serious toxic effects. In this study, the in vivo and in vitro anti-toxoplasma activities of Heracleum persicum and Foeniculum vulgare fruits essential oils were investigated. Materials and methods: In vitro, Vero cells were incubated with different concentrations of essential oils or pyrimethamine (positive control) and the cellular viability was determined. Next, Vero cells were infected with T. gondii (RH strain) and treated with agents. Then, the CC50, IC50, and selectivity index (SI) were calculated. Moreover, in vivo, the effect of oils on survival times of Balb/c mice infected with T. gondii were determined. Results: In vitro results showed that the oils exhibited less cell toxicity than pyrimethamine. The selective index was 2.94, 6.96, and 3.06 for Heracleum persicum, Foeniculum vulgare, and pyrimethamine, respectively. Also, the infected mice treated with F. vulgare-pyrimethamine showed a better survival rate than others (P<0.05). Conclusion: The H. persicum and F. vulgare essential oils showed anti-toxoplasmic activity in vitro and in vivo, but, combination therapy with F. vulgare and pyrimethamine showed a better survival time in mice infected with T. gondii. Therefore, F. vulgare may be a useful candidate in treatment of Toxoplasmosis. However, further studies are needed to investigate the fractions of this plant against T. gondii.