Evaluation of Moringa oleifera extract and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as therapeutic agents against chronic Toxoplasma gondii infection in mice

Abstract

Toxoplasmosis, a zoonotic infection caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, remains a significant global health concern, with seroprevalence exceeding 60% in specific regions. Given the limitations of current therapies for chronic stages, this study investigated the therapeutic efficacy of Moringa oleifera (MO) extract and MO-loaded copper-based metal-organic frameworks (MO@L-AA-Cu) in a murine model. Sixty-five female Swiss albino mice were utilized. Following the establishment of a negative control group (n=5), the remaining mice were orally inoculated with 20 cysts of the T. gondii ME49 strain to induce chronic infection. Treatment efficacy was evaluated via brain cyst quantification, histopathological examination of the brain, eyes, and spleen, and molecular analysis using RT-PCR. All treatment groups exhibited significant reductions in parasitic load compared to the positive control. The highest reduction was observed in group G3e (73.61%), followed by G3c (61.64%), G3d (56.91%), G3a (54.64%), and G3b (44.33%). Histopathological findings demonstrated a marked attenuation of inflammatory infiltrates, fibrosis, and structural tissue damage in groups receiving MO and Spiramycin encapsulated within Cu-MOFs. RT-PCR results corroborated these findings, identifying the lowest parasite DNA levels in the G3e cohort. The integration of MO extract and Spiramycin into L-AA-Cu MOFs significantly enhances their antiparasitic and anti-inflammatory properties. These findings suggest that MO-loaded MOFs represent a promising nanotherapeutic platform for the treatment of chronic toxoplasmosis, offering superior efficacy over conventional formulations.