AUTHOR=Huang Si-Yang , Yao Na , He Jia-Kang , Pan Ming , Hou Zhao-Feng , Fan Yi-Min , Du Aifang , Tao Jian-Ping 

TITLE=In vitro Anti-parasitic Activity of Pelargonium X. asperum Essential Oil Against Toxoplasma gondii

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cell-and-developmental-biology/articles/10.3389/fcell.2021.616340

DOI=10.3389/fcell.2021.616340

ISSN=2296-634X

ABSTRACT=<p>Toxoplasmosis is a global zoonotic disease, and one-third of the human population is chronically infected by <italic>Toxoplasma gondii</italic>. Due to the limited effectiveness and prominent side effects of the existing drugs, there is a dire need for the discovery of new therapeutic options in the treatment of toxoplasmosis. In this study, five essential oils (EO) were screened for their anti-parasitic activity against <italic>T. gondii</italic>. The cytotoxicity of essential oils was evaluated using the MTT assay on human foreskin fibroblast cells. The CC<sub>50</sub> values of <italic>Eucalyptus globulus</italic> EO, <italic>Cupressus sempervirens</italic> EO, <italic>Citrus aurantifolia</italic> EO, <italic>Melaleuca alternifolia</italic> EO, and <italic>Pelargonium X. asperum (Pa)</italic> EO were found to be 22.74, 7.25, 15.01, 6.26, and 4.77 mg/mL, respectively. Only <italic>Pa</italic>EO exhibited anti-parasitic activity, and inhibited the growth of <italic>T. gondii</italic> in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, treatment with <italic>Pa</italic>EO, was found to reduce the volume of <italic>T. gondii</italic> tachyzoites and make their membrane surfaces rough. These results showed that <italic>Pa</italic>EO was able to inhibit the growth of <italic>T. gondii</italic> by reducing invasion, which may be due to its detrimental effect on the ability of tachyzoites to move. These findings suggest that <italic>Pa</italic>EO could be a potential anti-<italic>T. gondii</italic> drug, which may facilitate the development of new and effective treatments against toxoplasmosis.</p>