Abstract:
The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of experimental infection by
toxoplasmosis on the immune response and to evaluate the potential therapeutic effect of Artemisia
herba-alba oil.
Methods: Mice were infected with the Prugniaud cystogenic strain of Toxoplasma,the cysts were
collected from the brains of mice and was prepared for intraperitoneal infection of mice two groups
were administered the Artemisia herba-alba oil. while other group received treatment with
Pyrimethamine + Clindamycin. The immune response was assessed by measuring the concentrations of
pro-inflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-12) in mouse serum using ELISA. The activation of
CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes was analyzed by flow cytometry, quantifying the percentages of cells
positive for IFN-γ. Granuloma formation was evaluated by histological examination of infected tissues.
The levels of IL-10, an immune regulatory cytokine, were measured in the serum of infected mice.
Results and discussion: The mice treated with Artemisia herba-alba oil showed a significant
decrease in parasitic burden compared to the infected control group. Similarly,
those treated with Pyrimethamine + Clindamycin, exhibited a significant reduction in parasitic burden.
Both groups showed a significant decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokine concentrations compared to
the infected control group. The activation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells was significantly higher than in
the infected control. Histological analysis revealed a decrease in granuloma formation in the tissues of
oil-treated and Pyrimethamine + Clindamycin-treated mice compared to the infected control group.
Furthermore, both treatments indicate a modulatory effect on the immune response.
Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate that the administration of Artemisia herba-alba oil at a
concentration of 5 mg/kg have high effencey than and Pyrimethamine + Clindamycin treatment at
concentrations of 25 mg/kg and 12.5 mg/kg, respectively, against toxoplasmosis
