A survey on the anti-Trichomonas vaginalis effect of the hydroalcoholic extract of various medicinal plants in vitro

Background and aims: Trichomoniasis is the most common non-viral sexually transmitted infection worldwide; although it is treated by a ۵-nitroimidazole drug family such as metronidazole (MTZ) with numerous side effects, and in this regard, alternative new drugs are required. Therefore, this study examined the anti-Trichomoniasis effect of the hydroalcoholic extract of some traditional medicinal plants of Iran in vitro. Methods: In this experimental study, the hydroalcoholic extracts of medicinal plants were prepared by maceration at a stock concentration of ۲۰ mg/mL in the saline solution and then used for in vitro anti-trichomonas experiments. Trichomonas vaginalis trophozoites were isolated from the patient and cultured in a Trypticase Yeast extract Iron-Serum-۳۳ medium. In addition, ۲۰۰ μL of the culture medium containing ۵×۱۰۴ trophozoites was diluted in plate wells, and ۱۰ doses were separately added on trophozoites for each extract serially diluted between ۰.۱۲ and ۱۶ mg/mL in triplicate. The plates were incubated for ۴۸ hours at ۳۷ ° C with ۵% CO۲ . The number of trophozoites was counted with a hemocytometer and Trypan blue staining. Finally, the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC۵۰) was calculated by probit analysis. Results: Among the tested plants, Eugenia caryophyllata, Camellia sinensis, and Terminalia chebula Retz showed the best anti-trichomonal activity with IC۵۰ values of ۱.۲۱, ۱.۶۲, and ۱.۶۶ mg/mL, respectively. All tested extracts had more IC۵۰ than MTZ (IC۵۰ ۱۰۰ mg/mL), an antiprotozoal drug used as a positive control. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, E. caryophylata, C. sinensis and T. chebula Retz affected the growth of T. vaginalis. Thus, it is recommended that other studies use this plant for the treatment of trichomoniasis infection.