Hossein Mahmoudvand
1 
, Amal Khudair Khalaf
2 , Nooshin Karbasian
3 , Leila Masoori
1 , Pouya Zareh Rajabi
3 , Mojgan Saki
1 , Javad Ghasemian Yadegari
4* 1 Razi Herbal Medicines Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
2 Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Thiqar, Thiqar, Iraq
3 Student Research Committee, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
4 Department of Pharmacognosy, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
Abstract
Introduction: Formononetin (FMN) is a natural isoflavone found in many plants. This work examined the anti-Toxoplasma effects and cytotoxicity properties of FMN on Toxoplasma gondii.
Methods: Effects of FMN (2-64 µg/mL) on tachyzoites forms were measured by cell viability assay for 48 hours. The effects of different concentrations of FMN on infectivity rate, intracellular parasites, and nitric oxide (NO) in macrophage cells (J774-A1) were also evaluated.
Results: FMN markedly (P<0.001) reduced the viability rate of tachyzoites forms with an IC50 value of 9.85 μg/mL. FMN also declined the rate of intracellular tachyzoites whereas, FMN increased the FMN production in macrophage cells.
Conclusion: The results of the present in vitro study revealed the favorable anti-Toxoplasma effects of FMN against tachyzoites and intracellular forms of T. gondii. Although the accurate anti-Toxoplasma mechanisms of FMN are not clear, our results showed that triggering the NO production might be considered one of the main mechanism actions of FMN for controlling and eliminating T. gondii. However, further surveys are mandatory to assess the effects of FMN in animal models and to evaluate its accurate mechanism actions before its use in clinical phase.
Implication for health policy/practice/research/medical education:
In the present investigation we showed the high in vitro anti-Toxoplasma effects of FMN, a natural isoflavone, against tachyzoites and intracellular forms of T. gondii by triggering the NO production as one of the main mechanism actions of FMN. Nevertheless, further surveys are mandatory to assess the effects of FMN in animal models and to evaluate its accurate mechanism actions before use in clinical phase.
Please cite this paper as: Mahmoudvand H, Khudair Khalaf A, Karbasian N, Masoori L, Zareh Rajabi P, Saki M, et al. Promising effects of formononetin, a natural isoflavone derived from herbs, against Toxoplasma gondii. J Herbmed Pharmacol. 2023;12(3):362-366. doi: 10.34172/jhp.2023.39.