Potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory impacts of Salvia officinalis leaves extract on mice experimentally infected with Trichinella spiralis.

Trichinellosis is a dangerous food-borne zoonotic infection with a global spread. Treatment is currently insufficient. The study aimed to assess the potential therapeutic effects of Sage (Salvia officinalis) leaves extract in comparison to albendazole against Trichinella spiralis infection in mice. Seventy mice were classified into six groups, non-infected control, non-infected receiving Salvia officinalis extract, infected control, infected and treated with albendazole (50 mg/kg), infected and received Salvia officinalis extract (250 mg/kg), and infected and treated with combination of 25 mg/kg albendazole and 250 mg/kg S. officinalis extract. Mice were sacrificed at 7- and 37-days post-infection for intestinal and muscle phases, respectively. Efficacy was assessed through parasitological parameters, anti-inflammatory and oxidative stress markers. Our finding revealed a significant reduction in the adult worms and larvae counts of T. spiralis in albendazole (97.3% (P < 0.01), 74.19% (P < 0.05), S. officinalis extract (80% (P < 0.05), 60% (P < 0.05) and combined treatment led to the highest reduction rate (91.9% (P < 0.05), 81.4% (P < 0.01). S. officinalis extract boosted the immune response by reducing NO and MDA levels while increasing SOD, CAT and GSH in intestinal and muscular tissues. Additionally, it improved the inflammatory response, Albendazole and S. officinalis, especially in combination, have effectively suppress inflammatory and fibrotic gene expression (FN1, TNFα, TGF-β, and IL-10) indicating synergistic therapeutic efficacy. In conclusion, S. officinalis extract can be considered a practical and effective alternative herbal drug in treating trichinellosis.