A novel green approach for the treatment of immature Schistosoma mansoni infection in mice with; Arabic gum (Acacia senegal); an antischistosomal agent

Praziquantel (PZQ), the only common schistosocidal drug in use, is not efficacious for treatment of immature schistosomiasis infection. Arabic gum (AG) is a complex polysaccharide that acts as an anti-oxidant which modulates the inflammatory and/or immunological processes. This study explores for the first time, the antischistosomal properties of AG in mice infected with the immature stage of Schistosoma mansoni (S. mansoni). Mice were divided into four groups: control group (infected non- treated), AG treated group, PZQ treated group, and AG+PZQ treated group. Oral administration of AG in a dose of 1 g/kg body weight, daily for 3 consecutive weeks post-infection (PI) resulted in a statistically significant (P-value 0.002 and 0.008 respectively) lower worm burden in both AG group and AG+PZQ group compared to PZQ and control groups. AG+PZQ group always showed the best results when compared with other groups regarding tissue egg load and oogram pattern. AG, both alone and in combination with PZQ, decreased the granuloma number and diameter; with increasing the cellularity and the number of degenerated Schistosoma eggs inside granulomas. Results obtained by this work elucidated a promising AG bioactivity against S. mansoni immature stages and provided a platform for subsequent experimental studies to illuminate the academia more about this novel and " green" antischistosomal agent. Key words: Schistosoma mansoni, immature stages, Arabic gum, antischistosomal agents, mice.