Naringenin mitigates experimental Trichinella spiralis infection in in vitro and in vivo studies.

Trichinellosis is a global public health concern with significant clinical impact. Albendazole (ABZ) is the standard benzimidazole for trichinellosis; however, shortcomings limit its use, necessitating the search for effective natural substitutes. Naringenin (NAG), a natural phytochemical flavanone, has antiparasitic properties against both helminths and protozoa. This study assessed NAG's potential therapeutic impact on experimental trichinellosis via in vitro and in vivo Studies. An in vitro experiment was performed to assess NAG's direct anthelmintic action against adult Trichinella spiralis (T. spiralis) worms. Then, a mouse model of trichinellosis was used to evaluate NAG's effectiveness in reducing worm and larval loads and assessing its influence on related pathological alterations. The adult worm survival demonstrated an evident in vitro anthelmintic effect of both NAG and ABZ, as documented by electron microscopy, in which the treated groups exhibited loss of their typical shape. Moreover, in the in vivo study, all treated groups showed a decrease in the mean adult intestinal worms and muscle larvae, significantly (P < 0.0001) compared with the model group, with the best reduction rates reported in the NAG + ABZ-treated group, which also reported the best histopathological improvement and the highest reduction in NF-κB expression. These findings concluded that NAG could be a promising natural therapeutic and enhancing agent for ABZ in combating trichinellosis.