Evaluation of Sodium Butyrate as an Anti-fibrotic Agent in Experimental Schistosomiasis mansoni infection

Rania Eladl Hassan, Demonstrator of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez University, P.O.Box: 43221,Suez, EgyptFollow
Manar Ezzelarab Ramadan, Assistant Professor of Medical Parasitology,Faculty of Medicine, Suez University, P.O.Box: 43221,Suez, Egypt
Nora Ibrahim Aboulfotouh, Assistant Professor of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, P.O.Box:35516, Mansoura , Egypt - Faculty of Medicine, Galala University, Suez 43511 , Egypt
Ramy Ahmed Abdelsalam Sallam, Assistant Professor of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, P.O.Box: 35516, Mansoura, Egypt
Basma Hamed Othman, Veterinarian surgeon , Medical Experimental Research Center(MERC), Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University , Mansoura 35516, Egypt
Soha Ibrahim Awad, Professor of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, P.O.Box: 35516, Mansoura, Egypt Egypt

Subject Area

Parasitology

Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

Background: Schistosomiasis is a prominent neglected tropical disease that is caused by Schistosoma mansoni, and it is characterized by granuloma formation, which advances to hepatic fibrosis and serious liver damage. The standard medication is praziquantel (PZQ), but it has minimal effect on larvae and no effect on fibrosis which is a main pathological feature in schistosomiaiss. So, new alternatives were suggested, such as sodium butyrate (SB), which is a fatty acid salt with medicinal qualities.

Objective: This study investigated the anti-fibrotic effect of sodium butyrate (SB) in a mouse model of S. mansoni-induced liver immunopathology using parasitological, biochemical, histological, and immunohistochemical (IHC) evaluations.

Methodology: Sixty female BALB/c mice were organized into six groups: GI (normal control), GII (infected, untreated), GIII (normal, SB-treated), GIV (infected, PZQ-treated), GV (infected, SB-treated), and GVI (infected, combined-treated). Worm burden, liver egg count, intestinal oogram, liver enzymes, liver histopathology, and high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) expression were assessed.

Results: Combination therapy demonstrated the greatest reduction in total worm burden (61%) and hepatic egg count (1876.2 ± 434.50), with significant improvement in liver enzyme levels. Histopathological examination revealed a marked reduction in granuloma number (58.86%) and size (35.9%), accompanied by suppression of HMGB1 expression compared with monotherapies.

Conclusion: Although SB exhibited limited antiparasitic activity, it showed significant anti-fibrotic effects and may serve as a beneficial adjunct to praziquantel therapy.

Recommended Citation

Hassan, Rania Eladl; Ramadan, Manar Ezzelarab; Aboulfotouh, Nora Ibrahim; Abdelsalam Sallam, Ramy Ahmed; Othman, Basma Hamed; and Awad, Soha Ibrahim (2026) "Evaluation of Sodium Butyrate as an Anti-fibrotic Agent in Experimental Schistosomiasis mansoni infection," Mansoura Medical Journal: Vol. 56 : Iss. 2 , Article 7.
Available at: https://doi.org/10.58775/2735-3990.1604