Synthesis, characterization, and in vitro activity of piperine nanocrystals against protoscoleces of Echinococcus granulosus.
11 affiliations
- 1Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
- 2School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
- 3Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.
- 4Department of Medical Nanotechnology, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
- 5Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
- 6Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Health, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran.
- 7Student Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran.
- 8Basic Sciences in Infectious Diseases Research Center, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
- 9Department of Medical Nanotechnology, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. [email protected].
- 10Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. [email protected].
- 11Basic Sciences in Infectious Diseases Research Center, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. [email protected].
Abstract
Background
Despite recent advances, current treatments for cystic echinococcosis (CE) still face challenges because of significant adverse effects and complications. This study investigates the synthesis, characterization, and in vitro activity of piperine nanocrystals (PIP-NCs) against E. granulosus protoscoleces.Methods
PIP-NCs were prepared by adding PIP to a solution of Tween 80 and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) in distilled water using an emulsion-nanoprecipitation method. The morphological and chemical characterization of PIP-NCs was performed using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometry, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The cytotoxicity assessment was performed using the MTT reduction assay on L929 fibroblast cells. E. granulosus protoscoleces were exposed to four concentrations of PIP-NCs (125, 250, 500, and 750 µg/mL) for durations of 5, 10, 20, 30, 60, and 120 min. Phosphate-buffered saline and hypertonic saline (20%) were used as the negative and positive control groups, respectively. The eosin exclusion test and flame cell motility were employed for the assessment of protoscolex viability.Results
FE-SEM showed the formation of PIP-NCs with a mean size of 279.47 ± 26.61 nm. UV-Vis spectrophotometry and FTIR confirmed the presence of PIP in the NCs. The cytotoxicity assay revealed 92.25 ± 25.61% and 68.45 ± 11.36% viability at concentrations of 1 and 3 mg/mL of PIP-NCs, respectively. Mortality rates of 78.33 ± 0.58, 84.33 ± 0.58, 81.33 ± 1.16, and 87.67 ± 0.58% at 125, 250, 500, and 750 µg/mL of PIP-NCs were recorded after 120 min, respectively. These mortality rates were significantly higher than the negative control group at 120 min (25.67 ± 0.58%) (p < 0.001).Conclusion
Our results showed preliminary in vitro activity for PIP-NCs against E. granulosus. Combination therapy of PIP-NCs with nanometals or albendazole nanoparticles may reduce required dosages and enhance antiparasitic efficacy. Further studies are warranted to evaluate in vivo applications, safety, potential combination therapies, and molecular mechanisms to optimize treatment outcomes.
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BibTeX
@article{amirsoleymani2026synthesis,
title = {{Synthesis, characterization, and in vitro activity of piperine nanocrystals against protoscoleces of Echinococcus granulosus.}},
author = {Mobina Amirsoleymani and Hassan Foroozand and Keivan Sahebi and Sara Takallu and Seyed Mahmoud Sadjjadi and Rasoul Alimi and Negin Asghari and Yosef Sharifi and Zahra Zareshahrabadi and Esmaeil Mirzaei and Aref Teimouri},
journal = {BMC complementary medicine and therapies},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1186/s12906-026-05495-z},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42958302},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Synthesis, characterization, and in vitro activity of piperine nanocrystals against protoscoleces of Echinococcus granulosus.
AU - Mobina Amirsoleymani
AU - Hassan Foroozand
AU - Keivan Sahebi
AU - Sara Takallu
AU - Seyed Mahmoud Sadjjadi
AU - Rasoul Alimi
AU - Negin Asghari
AU - Yosef Sharifi
AU - Zahra Zareshahrabadi
AU - Esmaeil Mirzaei
AU - Aref Teimouri
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/03
JO - BMC complementary medicine and therapies
DO - 10.1186/s12906-026-05495-z
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42958302
AB - Background Despite recent advances, current treatments for cystic echinococcosis (CE) still face challenges because of significant adverse effects and complications. This study investigates the synthesis, characterization, and in vitro activity of piperine nanocrystals (PIP-NCs) against E. granulosus protoscoleces.Methods PIP-NCs were prepared by adding PIP to a solution of Tween 80 and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) in distilled water using an emulsion-nanoprecipitation method. The morphological and chemical characterization of PIP-NCs was performed using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometry, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The cytotoxicity assessment was performed using the MTT reduction assay on L929 fibroblast cells. E. granulosus protoscoleces were exposed to four concentrations of PIP-NCs (125, 250, 500, and 750 µg/mL) for durations of 5, 10, 20, 30, 60, and 120 min. Phosphate-buffered saline and hypertonic saline (20%) were used as the negative and positive control groups, respectively. The eosin exclusion test and flame cell motility were employed for the assessment of protoscolex viability.Results FE-SEM showed the formation of PIP-NCs with a mean size of 279.47 ± 26.61 nm. UV-Vis spectrophotometry and FTIR confirmed the presence of PIP in the NCs. The cytotoxicity assay revealed 92.25 ± 25.61% and 68.45 ± 11.36% viability at concentrations of 1 and 3 mg/mL of PIP-NCs, respectively. Mortality rates of 78.33 ± 0.58, 84.33 ± 0.58, 81.33 ± 1.16, and 87.67 ± 0.58% at 125, 250, 500, and 750 µg/mL of PIP-NCs were recorded after 120 min, respectively. These mortality rates were significantly higher than the negative control group at 120 min (25.67 ± 0.58%) (p < 0.001).Conclusion Our results showed preliminary in vitro activity for PIP-NCs against E. granulosus. Combination therapy of PIP-NCs with nanometals or albendazole nanoparticles may reduce required dosages and enhance antiparasitic efficacy. Further studies are warranted to evaluate in vivo applications, safety, potential combination therapies, and molecular mechanisms to optimize treatment outcomes.
SN - 2662-7671
ER -