OXIDATIVE STRESS AND VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR IN EXPERIMENTAL ANIMAL MODEL OF SCHISTOSOMA MANSONI TREATED WITH MYRRH OR PRAZIQUANTEL

Oxidative stress was considered as an adverse event that contributes to the pathology associated with schistosomiasis. Angiogenesis plays a paramount role in the development of fibrosis. Our study aimed first to study the oxidative stress and angiogenesis in mice infected with S. mansoni compared to uninfected group and second to evaluate the effect of praziquantel and myrrh on oxidative stress and angiogenesis. Liver malondialdehyde, serum nitrite and nitrate, serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), liver superoxide dismutase and glutathione reductase were measured in thirty mice infected with S. mansoni before and after treatment with praziquantel or with Myrrh. Ten uninfected mice were used as control. Our Results revealed that malondialdehyde was significantly increased while glutathione reductase and superoxide dismutase were significantly decreased in mice infected with S. mansoni compared to uninfected control group. Serum VEGF was significantly increased by 2.5 folds in infected mice compared to uninfected group. However, Liver MDA and antioxidant enzymes were not altered in S. mansoni- infected mice treated with praziquantel or with myrrh. Only myrrh succeeds to significantly decrease serum VEGF and nitric oxide. In conclusion, our data show that oxidative stress and angiogenesis were increased in schistosomiasis and that treatment with myrrh extracts can decrease angiogenesis and the development of fibrosis.