Anthelmintic and Hepatoprotective Activities of the Green-Synthesized Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Against Parascaris equorum Infection in Rats

Main conclusions Green-synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticle is a promising treatment modality against parasitic infection through its powerful anthelmintic, antioxidant, healing promotion, and anti-inflammation effects. Background Nanoparticles have many properties, depending on their size, shape, and morphology, allowing them to interact with microorganisms, plants, and animals. Objectives Investigation of the therapeutic effects of green-synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) on Parascaris equorum infection in rats. Methods Thirty-six rats were divided into two divisions: the first division is noninfected groups were allocated into three groups. Group 1: Control, group 2: ZnO NPs (30 mg/kg), and group 3: ZnO NPs (60 mg/kg). The second division is infected groups were allocated into three groups. Group 1: vehicle, group 2: ZnO NPs (30 mg/kg), and group 3: ZnO NPs (60 mg/kg). Findings Ten days post-infection, two larvae per gram of liver tissue were present in the vehicle group compared to the control group. No larvae were recovered from ZnO NPs (30 mg/kg), and one larva/g.tissue from ZnO NPs (60 mg/kg)-treated groups compared to untreated infected animals. Green-synthesized ZnO NPs caused a significant decrease in liver functions, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), cholesterol, triglycerides, malondialdehyde (MDA), and nitric oxide (NO). While it caused a significant increase in hemoglobin (HB), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), butyrylcholinesterase (BCHE), glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), and glutathione S-transferase (GST) in infected treated rats. The histological inflammation and fibroplasia scores showed a significant enhancement during the treatment with ZnO NPs (30, 60 mg/kg) compared to the infected untreated animals that scored the highest pathological destruction score. Immunohistochemical markers of NF-kappa B showed a significant decrease during the treatment with ZnO NPs (30, 60 mg/kg) compared to the infected untreated animals.