There are various protoscolicidal agents for inactivation of protoscoleces of hydatid cysts before and during surgical operation. The present study was aimed to evaluate the protoscolicidal effect of two concentrations of Eucalyptus globulus on protoscoleces of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato under in vitro condition and to compare its efficacy with hypertonic saline, povidone iodine and silver nitrate.

Live protoscoleces obtained from the liver of naturally infected sheep were exposed to 0.5% and 1% of Eucalyptus globulus essential oil, 5% hypertonic saline, 10% povidone iodine and 0.5% silver nitrate for 1 and 3minutes. Phosphate buffered saline was used as a negative control. One percent eosin staining method was used to test the viability of protoscoleces in different groups.

While the mean percentage of dead protoscoleces was 6.08% in the control group, the scolicidal power of 5% hypertonic saline was only 6.54% and 6.60% after 1 and 3min respectively. 0.5% E. globulus EO demonstrated 97.38% and 100% scolicidal activity after 1 and 3min respectively. The mean protoscolicidal power of 1% E. globulus EO, 10% povidone iodine and 0.5% silver nitrate was 100% after one minute.

According to the results of this study, E. globulus EO demonstrated high scolicidal power in a short period of time. Hence, this herbal product could be considered as a potent natural scolicidal agent that could be used before and during surgery of hydatid disease.