Antiparasitic effect of limonene, a monoterpene compound found in the essential oils against Giardia lamblia

Ali Kharazmkia; Javad Ghasemian Yadegari; Mohamad Mohamadian; Rehman Ali; Hossein Mahmoudvand

doi:10.34172/jhp.2023.34

J Herbmed Pharmacol. 2023;12(2): 327-330.
doi: 10.34172/jhp.2023.34

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Short Communication

Antiparasitic effect of limonene, a monoterpene compound found in the essential oils against Giardia lamblia

Ali Kharazmkia ¹ , Javad Ghasemian Yadegari ¹ , Mohamad Mohamadian ² , Rehman Ali ³ , Hossein Mahmoudvand ⁴^*

¹ Razi Herbal Medicines Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
² Student Research Committee, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
³ Department of Zoology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Kohat University of Science and Technically Kohat-26000, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
⁴ Razi Herbal Medicines Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran

*Corresponding Author: Hossein Mahmoudvand, Email: dmahmodvand@gmail.com

Abstract

Introduction: The present work aimed to assess the anti-parasitic effects of limonene (LMN) against Giardia lamblia trophozoites and cysts.

Methods: Anti-Giardia activities of LMN (25, 50, and 100 µg/mL) were assessed against G. lamblia cysts and trophozoites for 15-360 minutes. The effects of LMN on the apoptosis stimulation G. lamblia parasites were determined by colorimetric protease assay.

Results: Giardia trophozoites were more sensitive to LMN than cysts. The best effect of LMN was seen at 100 μg/mL. LMN markedly triggered caspase-3 activity by 10.2%, 25.3%, and 36.1%, respectively (P<0.001).

Conclusion: We found the potent in vitro anti-giardia activity of LMN against G. lamblia parasites with the maximum activity at 50 and 100 µg/mL. However, additional surveys are necessary to reveal the specific efficacy, mechanisms, and safety of LMN.

Keywords: Giardiasis, Apoptosis, Natural products, In vitro, Herbal medicines

Implication for health policy/practice/research/medical education:

This work revealed the potent in vitro anti-Giardia activity of limonene (LMN) against G. lamblia with the maximum activity at 50 and 100 µg/mL. We also showed that induction of apoptosis could be considered as one of the cellular mechanisms of action of limonene; nevertheless, additional surveys are necessary to consider it as a new drug.

Please cite this paper as: Kharazmkia A, Ghasemian Yadegari J, Mohammadian M, Ali R, Mahoudvand H. Antiparasitic effect of limonene, a monoterpene compound found in the essential oils against Giardia lamblia. J Herbmed Pharmacol. 2023;12(2):327- 330. doi: 10.34172/jhp.2023.34.