Studies on the effect of antioxidant Selenium-ACE after treatment with Praziquantel and Mirazid in Schistosoma mansoni infected mice

Background: This study deals with the evaluation of parasitological, histopathological and biochemical effect of Praziquantel (PZQ) and Mirazid (MZ) with or without Selenium-ACE (Se-ACE) on male albino mice infected with S.mansoni and trying to evaluate the antioxidant effect of Se-ACE and its role in reducing the severity of the infection. Results: The obtained results indicated that treatment with PZQ produced more reduction in worm burden and ova count/gm liver than MZ compared to the infected control group. PZQ showed the highest reduction in liver granuloma number and diameter when compared to MZ group while both drugs showed a significant effect in restoration of the liver transaminases and protein fractions towards their normal levels indicating the safety of both drugs as anti S. mansoni chemotherapeutics, Se-ACE showed a high efficacy as a co-treatment, potentiating the effect of PZQ and MZ in reducing the worm burden, ova count/gm liver, number and diameter of liver granuloma and restoration of liver transaminases and protein fractions to their normal levels during treatment of S. mansoni infection. Conclusion: the rank order of potency in protection against liver cell damage was PZQ 500 mg/kg > MZ 600 mg/kg where Se-ACE showed a couraging criterion as a co- treatment potentiating the effect of the antischistosomal medications through its anti- oxidant activity.