What is it about?
The present investigation highlights the limitations of conventional pharmacological therapy for schistosomiasis, including the emergence of fibrosis and the progressive de-terioration of liver function associated with the development of drug resistance
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Why is it important?
The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of PZQ and safranal in managing liver fibrosis induced by Schistosoma mansoni. The findings suggest that the combined therapy exerts an additive effect in reducing hepatic egg burden, granuloma size, and liver fibrosis. The combined treatment also enhances antioxidant defenses, reduces oxidative stress, and decreases fibrotic markers such as α-SMA and TGF-β. Furthermore, the findings empha-size the anti-inflammatory properties of the PZQ–safranal formulation, as evidenced by the reduction of pro-inflammatory signaling associated with liver inflammation and fi-brosis. These data suggest that the combined use of PZQ and safranal may represent a viable strategy to address the issue of PZQ resistance and more effectively control schis-tosomiasis-associated liver fibrosis (Figure 8).
Perspectives
Our conclusions regarding the PZQ + safranal interaction remain preliminary and should be confirmed by future dose–response studies designed specifically to distinguish additive from synergistic effects. Therefore, further studies are necessary to validate these findings
Dr Alaaeldin A Hamza
National Organization for Drug Control and Research
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This page is a summary of: Safranal Enhances the Efficacy of Praziquantel Against Schistosoma mansoni Infection and Alleviates Liver Fibrosis, Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Mice, Journal of Xenobiotics, June 2026, MDPI AG,
DOI: 10.3390/jox16040120.
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