Zinc oxide/barite nanocomposite from Trachyspermum ammi plant extract: A novel agent against protoscolices of Echinococcus granulosus

Hydatid disease is a shared illness between humans and livestock that impacts the health of both humans and animals, and it also presents considerable risks to the global economy. The current study aims to synthesize zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and zinc oxide/barite nanocomposites (ZnO/Brt NC) modified with chitosan (ZnO/Brt/Chit NC), using aqueous extract of the Trachyspermum ammi plant and a chemical method. The scolicidal effect, IC50, 50 , and mRNA expression of the caspase-3 gene on protoscolices were measured using Real-time PCR to identify nanomaterials (NMs) with superior biological efficacy against hydatid cyst protoscolices. The characteristics of these NMs were examined using techniques such as XRD, FTIR, FE-SEM, EDS, DLS, ZP, and PDI. Colloidal sizes for ZnO NPs, ZnO/Brt NC, and ZnO/Brt/Chit NC synthesized via the green method, and ZnO/Brt NC and chemically-synthesized ZnO/Brt/Chit NC were found to be 28.18, 68.10, 106.60, 85.90, and 165.60 nm, respectively. These NCs, which possess crystalline structures and spherical morphology, have been stabilized on a barite substrate. The zeta potential obtained for the green-synthesized NCs is-22.80 mV, and for those synthesized chemically, it is-19.70 mV. Results indicate that ZnO NPs and green-synthesized ZnO/Brt NC have the strongest scolicidal effect. At a concentration of 200 mg/mL, ZnO NPs achieved 100 % lethality in 60 min and ZnO/Brt NC in 30 min. The IC50 50 values for ZnO NPs and ZnO/Brt NC were 858.3 and 1205 mu g/mL, respectively. In contrast, chemically-synthesized and chitosan-modified NCs showed a weaker scolicidal effect. At a concentration of 0.5 mg/mL, a significant increase in caspase-3 gene expression was observed for ZnO NPs (6.66 +/- 0.94), (p = 0.003) and green-synthesized ZnO/Brt NC (5.06 +/- 1.27), (p = 0.02), suggesting these NMs could be effective scolicidal agents In vivo conditions.