Hamadan University of Medical Sciences Avicenna Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infection 2383-0298 10 1 2023 03 29 Comparison of the Scolicidal Activity of Pulicaria gnaphalodes and Alhagi maurorum Extracts against Protoscoleces of Echinococcus granulosus Sensu Lato In Vitro 38 42 10.34172/ajcmi.2023.3418 EN Seyed Jafar Adnani Sadati https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5636-4626 Babake Aghili https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4709-1435 Abolghasem Siyadatpanah https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3172-5939 Roghayeh Norouzi https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4393-2380 Journal Article 10.34172/ajcmi.2023.3418 2022 09 13 2023 03 04 Background: Cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by the larval stage of the Echinococcus granulosus, is a zoonotic disease and has a global distribution. Today, herbal compounds are highly regarded in order to inactivate hydatid cyst protoscoleces. This study aimed to compare the scolicidal activity of hydroalcoholic extract of Pulicaria gnaphalodes and Alhagi maurorum against hydatid cyst protoscoleces in vitro. Methods: The scolicidal activity of P. gnaphalodes and A. maurorum extracts were evaluated at 50, 100, 150, and 200 mg/mL concentrations following 15, 30, and 60 minutes of exposure. Then, they were compared with Albendazole (5 g/100 mL) as positive control and distilled water as negative one in similar doses. The viability of protoscoleces was confirmed with a 0.1% eosin stain test under a light microscope. The experiments were performed twice, and data were analyzed by GraphPad software version 5.0. Results: The results of this study indicated that P. gnaphalodes extract killed 100% of the protoscoleces at a concentration of 200 mg/mL after 30 minutes of exposure, but the hydroalcoholic extract of A. maurorum at the same concentration and time could kill 90% of protoscoleces. Conclusion: The findings of the present study confirmed that P. gnaphalodes had a strong scolicidal effect; however; in vivo studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of P. gnaphalodes plant.