Anti-trypanosomal, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects of Cichorium intybus sesquiterpene lactones in experimental Trypanosoma evansi infection

Abstract Trypanosoma evansi is an important protozoan pathogen affecting various animal species particularly camels and horses, leading to significant economic losses. The ineffective control of T. evansi is attributed to the absence of vaccines and emergence of resistance towards existing chemotherapeutic agents. This study evaluated the efficacy of a fraction enriched with sesquiterpene lactones derived from Cichorium intybus on parasitemia levels and related pathological changes in Trypanosoma evansi-infected rats. Eighty healthy male albino rats were allocated into four groups of equal size; Group I served as the control negative (uninfected). Group II received an intraperitoneal infection with Trypanosoma evansi (1 × 10⁴ trypanosomes/rat). Group III was also infected and received intramuscular treatment with diminazene aceturate (7 mg/kg body weight). Group IV administered a daily oral dose of C. intybus fraction (200 mg/kg body weight) and similarly infected. Infection by T. evansi induced anemia (normocytic normochromic), leucocytosis, alterations in lipid profile, and hypoglycemia. Furthermore, the infection resulted in the upregulation of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), alongside the downregulation of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) gene expression levels. The pathological lesions in the splenic and brain tissues, coupled with a significant increase in brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and oxidative stress, were also observed in the infected groups. Cichorium intybus fraction administration significantly reduced the parasitemia level and alleviated the pathological changes caused by T. evansi compared to the untreated infected group. The sesquiterpene lactones- enriched fraction from C. intybus demonstrates a notable anti-trypanosomal efficacy and may represent a promising source for the development of novel trypanocidal compounds.