The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the impacts of Zataria multiflora aromatic water (ZMAW) and nano emulsion (NE) of Z. multiflora essential oil (ZMEO) on IL-4 (Th2-derived cytokine) and IFN-ɣ (Th1-derived cytokine) concentrations in mice with hydatidosis. Sixty four healthy BALB/c female mice were intraperitoneally injected by 1500 live protoscoleces of Echinococcus granulosus. Five month after injection, the infected mice were divided into seven treatment groups, including: Albendazole (100 mg/kg), ZMAW (100 ml/L), Albendazole 100 + ZMAW (Albendazole 100 mg/kg and ZMAW 100 ml/L), Albendazole 50 + ZMAW (Albendazole 50 mg/kg and ZMAW 100 ml/L), Albendazole 100 + NE of ZMEO (Albendazole 100 mg/kg and NE of ZMEO 10 ml/L), albendazole 50 + NE of ZMEO (albendazole 50 mg/kg and NE of ZMEO 10 ml/L) and the control group with no treatment. The mice received the ZMAW, NE of ZMEO and/or albendazole through drinking water for 90 days. At the end of treatment (90 days), blood specimens were harvested from all mice. A significant reduction in IL-4 concentration was revealed in the albendazole 50 group + NE of ZMEO, when compared to the control group (P<0.05). No significant difference was noticed for the IFN-γ concentration between the trial groups. Increased IFN-γ: IL-4 ratio was observed in the albendazole 50 + ZMAW, Albendazole 50 + NE of ZMEO, Albendazole 100 + NE of ZMEO groups in comparison with the control group (P<0.05). The findings observed in the current study showed that the administration of ZMAW and NE of ZMEO along with albendazole could enhance the IFN-γ: IL-4 ratio (Th1/Th2 balance), which may have therapeutic value in the treatment of hydatid disease

Keywords