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A combination of praziquantel and the traditional medicinal plant Thunbergia laurifolia on Opisthorchis viverrini infection and cholangiocarcinoma in a hamster model

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Abstract

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) associated by Opisthorchis viverrini remains a health problem in Southeast Asia including Thailand. At present, there is still no efficient treatment for CCA. Thunbergia laurifolia is a traditionally used medicinal plant; its aqueous leave extract possesses the antioxidant activity and anti-inflammatory on hamster opisthorchiasis had been reported previously. Here, we demonstrate the combined effects of the T. laurifolia extract plus antihelminthic drug, praziquantel (PZ) on hamsters with opisthorchiasis and hamsters with opisthorchiasis related-cholangiocarcinoma through light microscopic observations of histopathological changes, as well as liver function tests for alanine transaminase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase, and kidney function tests for blood urea nitrogen and creatinine. Results showed T. laurifolia extract combined with praziquantel reduced inflammatory cell aggregation and inhibiting CCA development, which were correlated to the serum ALT level. These present studies suggest that administration of T. laurifolia after praziquantel treatment clearly improve the hepatobiliary system and could reduce the risk of subsequent CCA development in human.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grants from the Thailand Research Fund (grant no. RMU5480002), Khon Kaen University (KKU56) and the Royal Golden Jubilee Ph.D. Program (grant no. PHD/0280/2552) to Miss Nadchanan Wonkchalee and Associate Professor Thidarut Boonmars. We also thank the research affair for giving as an assistant researcher (RA56201), Animal Experimental Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University for their support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand

    Nadchanan Wonkchalee, Thidarut Boonmars, Porntip Laummaunwai, Pranee Sriraj, Ratchadawan Aukkanimart & Pakkayanee Sudsarn

  2. Liver Fluke and Cholangiocarcinoma Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand

    Nadchanan Wonkchalee, Thidarut Boonmars, Pranee Sriraj, Ratchadawan Aukkanimart & Pakkayanee Sudsarn

  3. Research and Diagnostic Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand

    Thidarut Boonmars

  4. Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand

    Chantana Aromdee

  5. Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand

    Chariya Hahnvajanawong

  6. Department of Parasitology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, 5011194, Japan

    Zhiliang Wu

  7. Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand

    Yaovaluk Chamgramol & Chawalit Pairojkul

  8. Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahasarakham University, Mahasarakham, Thailand

    Amornrat Juasook

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  1. Nadchanan Wonkchalee
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  2. Thidarut Boonmars
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  3. Porntip Laummaunwai
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  4. Chantana Aromdee
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  5. Chariya Hahnvajanawong
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  6. Zhiliang Wu
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  7. Pranee Sriraj
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  8. Ratchadawan Aukkanimart
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  9. Yaovaluk Chamgramol
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  10. Chawalit Pairojkul
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  12. Pakkayanee Sudsarn
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Correspondence to Thidarut Boonmars.

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Wonkchalee, N., Boonmars, T., Laummaunwai, P. et al. A combination of praziquantel and the traditional medicinal plant Thunbergia laurifolia on Opisthorchis viverrini infection and cholangiocarcinoma in a hamster model. Parasitol Res 112, 4211–4219 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-013-3613-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-013-3613-y

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