Ultrastructural observations on Fasciolopsis buski and its alterations caused by shoot extract of Alpinia nigra

Fascioliasis and fasciolopsiasis: Current knowledge and future trends

Food-borne zoonotic trematodiases are classified as neglected diseases by the World Health Organization. Among them, fascioliasis is caused worldwide by Fasciola hepatica and F. gigantica, and represent a huge problem in livestock production and human health in endemic areas. Fasciolopsis buski, restricted to specific regions of Asia, causes fasciolopsiasis. The incidence of these trematodiases is underestimated due to under-reporting and to the lack of sensitive and widely accepted tool for their diagnosis. This, together with a rising trend in reporting of drug resistance and the need for an effective vaccine against these parasites, pose a challenge in the effective control of these diseases. Here, the latest reports on fascioliasis outbreaks between 2000 and 2020 and the most recent advances in their epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment and control are revised. Finally, future needs in the field of fascioliasis and fasciolopsiasis are presented, which could be addressed based on current knowledge and by means of new emerging technologies.

Biochemical and ultrastructural changes in Raillietina echinobothrida in vitro exposed to extract of Lysimachia ramosa

Lysimachia ramosa (Primulaceae) is a traditionally used medicinal plant, leaves extract of which is being widely used by the Jaintia tribes of Meghalaya, India for controlling helminthiasis. Preliminary investigation carried out on helminth parasites revealed that the crude extract of the plant causes deformity in the surface topography leading to death of the parasites. Therefore, the present study was conducted to identify the specific fraction of the crude leaf extract of the plant responsible for cestocidal efficacy, through biochemical and ultrastructural studies in Raillietina echinobothrida exposed to crude extract and its different fractions namely hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol. A dose dependent efficacy, with highest rate of mortality among n-butanol exposed parasites was recorded. The treated parasites exhibited complete erosion of microtriches from the tegument, disintegration of muscle bundles, cellular organelles, plasma membrane, nuclear membrane, nucleolus and vacuolization of mitochondria was also observed. Observations on histochemical distribution of some important tegumental enzymes like adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase), alkaline phosphatase (AlkPase), acid phosphatase (AcPase) and 5'Nucleotidase (5'-Nu) revealed a marked diminished stain intensity in the tegument of R. echinobothrida exposed to the crude extract and n-butanol fraction of the crude extract compared to the control. Highest reduction (77.93%) in the activity of ATPase was observed when the parasites exposed to 6 mg n-butanol fraction/ml of PBS. The results suggest that these enzymes act as target for anthelmintic stress caused by the phytochemicals present in the plant.

Genistein: is the multifarious botanical a natural anthelmintic too?

Genistein (4',5,7-trihydroxyisoflavone) is naturally present in plants of the soy family and is known to have various pharmacological activities, such as anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-oxidant, etc. The phytoestrogen is one of the major isoflavones found in some medicinal plants having anthelmintic properties. This review describes the putative role of genistein as an anthelmintic, which has been tested on some helminth parasites in vitro. Genistein has been shown to cause paralysis and alterations in the tegument and tegumental enzymes (acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, adenosine triphosphatase, and 5'-nucleotidase) of helminth parasites. Alterations in the activities of several enzymes associated with the coordination system (specifically non-specific esterases, acetylcholine esterase, and nitric oxide synthase), and changes in the concentration of nitric oxide, cGMP, free amino acid pool, and tissue ammonia are observed in helminth parasites treated with genistein. The phytoestrogen also affects the carbohydrate metabolism by altering the activities of key enzymes involved in glycogen- and glucose-metabolism of a cestode parasite. Considering the significance of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) in glycolysis of the cestode parasite, Ki of the phytoestrogen for PEPCK in the parasite has been determined, and molecular docking of genistein into the active site of the enzyme has also been described. The potential beneficial role of genistein as a natural alternative in management of helminth parasites needs to be further explored, particularly considering its in vivo efficacy and pharmacokinetics.

Phytochemicals, antioxidant, and anthelmintic activity of selected traditional wild edible plants of lower Assam

Objective:

Clerodendrum viscosum, Eryngium foetidum, Lippia javanica, and Murraya koenigii are one among the common wild edible plants in Northeast India which are also used as antidiabetic, stomach-ache relieving drugs, etc., The present study was aimed to reveal the phytochemical, antioxidant, and anthelmintic activity of the plants.

Materials and Methods:

The antioxidant capacity of methanolic extract of plants was studied by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant power, TBARS, and total antioxidant activity (TAA). Total phenolics, flavonoids, Vitamin C, carbohydrate, and protein are also estimated following standard protocols. Anthelmintic activity of the extracts has also been studied in vitro against trematode parasites.

Results:

The result showed that the methanolic extracts of plants possess a substantial quantity of alkaloids, phenolics, flavonoids, proteins, carbohydrates, and Vitamin C. Phenolics, flavonoids, and Vitamin C contents were found higher in C. viscosum followed by M. koenigii, L. javanica, and E. foetidum. The in vitro antioxidant assays revealed substantial free radical scavenging property in all the plants. TAA increased in the order C. viscosum > M. koenigii > L. javanica > E. foetidum. Similarly, C. viscosum displayed a better antioxidant capacity with IC₅₀ values 29.74 ± 3.63 μg and 148.77 ± 18.38 μg for DPPH and thiobarbituric acid reactive species, respectively. In addition, the plant extracts also showed good anthelmintic activity against Paramphistomum sp. Time taken for paralysis and death were 0:56 ± 0:09 h and 1:35 ± 0:07 h for L. javanica at 50 mg/mL concentration.

Conclusion:

The study therefore suggests the importance of tested plants as a natural source of free radical scavenger and plausible veterinary uses.

In vitro anthelmintic efficacy of Carex baccans (Cyperaceae): ultrastructural, histochemical and biochemical alterations in the cestode, Raillietina echinobothrida

The aqueous juice of the root extract of Carex baccans (Family: Cyperaceae) is used as an anthelmintic in Meghalaya, India. The present investigation was carried out to evaluate the extent of ultrastructural, histochemical and biochemical alterations caused by the plant derived component(s) on Raillietina echinobothrida, a cestode parasite of domestic fowl. Live tapeworms, collected from the freshly slaughtered host, were exposed to different concentrations of the crude ethanolic root extract of C. baccans for varying time durations. The treated parasites revealed complete inactivation and flaccid paralysis leading to death; they were processed for ultrastructural, histochemical and biochemical observations, as soon as paralysis set in. Compared to controls, the treated parasites showed extensive distortion and destruction of the surface fine topography of the tegument, erosion of microtriches, disruption of muscle layers, intense vacuolization of tegumental and subtegumental layers, swelling and vacuolization of mitochondria and a significantly reduced activity of tegumental enzymes like AcPase and AlkPase. Phytochemicals from the root of C. baccans seem to be effective against soft-bodied cestode parasites and need to be characterized and identified.

Ultrastructural alterations of the tegument of Raillietina echinobothrida treated with the stem bark of Acacia oxyphylla (Leguminosae)

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The stem bark of Acacia oxyphylla Graham ex Bentham is used as an anthelmintic by the natives of Mizoram (North-East India).

AIM OF THE STUDY

The present study was performed to evaluate whether or not the plant-derived components caused any ultrastructural changes in the tegumental interface of the parasite.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The test parasite Raillietina echinobothrida, the cestode of domestic fowl, was exposed to the ethanolic crude extract and acetone fraction of stem bark of Acacia oxyphylla for varying concentrations and time duration and processed for transmission electron microscopy as soon as paralysis set in the treated parasites.

RESULTS

Treatment with crude alcoholic extract and its acetone fraction revealed complete inactivation and flaccid paralysis of the cestode, which was soon followed by death. The treated parasites also exhibited intense vacuolization of the tegumental layers along with complete disorganization and/or erosion of microtriches.

CONCLUSIONS

Considerable structural alterations in the treated parasites are suggestive of an efficient vermicidal activity of the Acacia oxyphylla stem bark-derived botanicals against cestodes.

Anthelmintic efficacy of ethanolic shoot extract of Alpinia nigra on tegumental enzymes of Fasciolopsis buski, a giant intestinal parasite

Ethanolic shoot extract of Alpinia nigra, a traditionally used anthelmintic medicinal plant among the Tripuri tribes of north-east India, was tested in vitro to determine its anthelmintic efficacy in gastrointestinal trematode Fasciolopsis buski, using alterations in the activity of vital tegumental enzymes viz. acid phosphatase (AcPase), alkaline phosphatase (AlkPase) and adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase). Live adult F. buski treated in vitro with different concentrations of the plant extract showed significant decline in the visible stain histochemically and enzyme activities. Quantitatively, the total enzyme activity of AcPase, AlkPase and ATPase was found to be reduced by 45, 41 and 43%, respectively compared to the control. The reference drug, praziquantel also showed more or less similar effect like that of the plant extract. The results suggest that the tegumental enzymes of the parasite may be an important target of action for active component(s) of A. nigra, which appears to act transtegumentally.