Effects of Ivermectin and Caper Leaves Extract Loaded-Silver Nanoparticles on Calmodulin and Caspase-3 genes of Echinococcus granulosus Protoscoleces in vitro

Hydatidosis is an important zoonotic disease due to treatment difficulties. Recent studies have explored alternative treatments, including plant extracts and nanoparticles to enhance drug delivery and efficacy. This study investigated the lethal effects of different concentrations (1000, 500 and 125 μg/mL) of ivermectin (IVM) and ivermectin-loaded silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), in addition to different concentrations (100, 50 and 12.5 mg/mL) of extract (EXT) and extract-loaded AgNPs against hydatid cyst protoscoleces (PSCs). AgNPs were characterized by UV-visible, X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Gene expression was assessed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR after 12 and 24 hours of exposure. We evaluated the therapeutic effects by quantifying calmodulin and caspase-3 gene expression. In vitro, AgNPs showed scolicidal effects against PSCs by activating calmodulin and caspase-3 gene expression. The gene expression in PSCs treated with IVM-loaded AgNPs and EXT-loaded AgNPs Was higher (P≤0.05) than that of PSCs treated with IVM and extract. These data suggest that IVM-loaded AgNPs and EXT-loaded AgNPs may be a promising alternative to current treatments.