Evaluating the inhibitory effect of resveratrol on the multiplication of several species and on cultures, and in mice.

Histone post-translational modification is one of the most studied factors influencing epigenetic regulation of protozoan parasite gene expression, which is mediated by histone deacetylases (KDACs) and acetyltransferases (KATs). The present study investigated the role of resveratrol (RVT) as an activator of histone deacetylases in the control of various pathogenic Babesia sp. and Theileria equi , as well as infected mice using fluorescence assay. Its role in mitigating the side effects associated with the widely used antibabesial drugs diminazene aceturate (DA) and azithromycin (AZM) has also been investigated. The growth of , , , and Theileria equi () was significantly inhibited (P < 0.05) by RVT treatments. The estimated IC50 values revealed that RVT has the greatest inhibitory effects on growth , with an IC50 value of 29.51 ± 2.46 µM. Reverse transcription PCR assay showed that such inhibitory activity might be attributed to resveratrol's stimulatory effect on KDAC3 as well as its inhibitory effect on BbKATS. RVT causes a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in cardiac troponin T (cTnT) levels in heart tissue of - infected mice, thereby indicating that RVT may play a part in reducing the cardiotoxic effects of AZM. Resveratrol showed an additive effect with imidocarb dipropionate . Treatment of -infected mice with a combined 5 mg/kg RVT and 8.5 mg/kg ID resulted in an 81.55% inhibition at day 10 postinoculation (peak of parasitemia). Our data show that RVT is a promising antibabesial pharmacological candidate with therapeutic activities that could overcome the side effects of the currently used anti-Babesia medications.