Anthelmintic effects of forage chicory (Cichorium intybus) against free-living and parasitic stages of Cooperia oncophora

Phytochemistry, pharmacological applications, and therapeutic effects of green synthesized nanomaterials using Cichorium species-a comprehensive review

Cichorium is a genus of potential medicinal herbs that finds widespread cultivation in regions spanning Asia and Europe. Belonging to the Asteraceae family, these plants are typically biennial or perennial in nature. Among the various explored varieties of chicory plants, the most commonly studied ones include Cichorium intybus, Cichorium endivia, and Cichorium pumilum. In Ayurveda, chicory has long been used as a remedy for many health problems. This versatile plant is renowned for its efficacy in managing conditions such as gallstones, gastroenteritis, sinus ailments, and the treatment of skin abrasions and wounds. Numerous bioactives, including polysaccharides, caffeic acid, flavonoids, coumarins, steroids, alkaloids, organic acids, triterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids, and essential oils, are present, according to a thorough phytochemical examination. The phytochemicals isolated from chicory have displayed significant therapeutic activities, including antidiabetic effects, hepatoprotective benefits, anti-obesity properties, and anti-cancer potential, as extensively documented by numerous researchers. The incorporation of these bioactive compounds into one's diet as part of a healthy lifestyle has demonstrated considerable advantages for human well-being. Green synthesis is a recent technology in which plant extracts or phytochemicals are used for synthesizing nanoparticles since plant extracts are generally less toxic and contain capping and reducing agents. This review summarizes current developments in green synthesis employing phytoconstituents from Cichorium species and extracts from various plant parts and their application to scientific problems. In order to preserve lifestyles and cure human diseases, the investigation emphasizes the therapeutic effects of the chemical components and nanoparticles obtained from the extract of Cichorium species.

Chicory (Cichorium intybus) reduces cyathostomin egg excretion and larval development in grazing horses

Cyathostomins are the most prevalent parasitic nematodes of grazing horses. They are responsible for colic and diarrhea in their hosts. After several decades of exposure to synthetic anthelmintics, they have evolved to become resistant to most compounds. In addition, the drug-associated environmental side-effects question their use in the field. Alternative control strategies, like bioactive forages, are needed to face these challenges. Among these, chicory (Cichorium intybus, Puna II cultivar (cv.)) is known to convey anthelmintic compounds and may control cyathostomins in grazing horses. To challenge this hypothesis, we measured fecal egg counts and the rate of larval development in 20 naturally infected young saddle horses (2-year-old) grazing either (i) a pasture sown with chicory (n = 10) or (ii) a mesophile grassland (n = 10) at the same stocking rate (2.4 livestock unit (LU)/ha). The grazing period lasted 45 days to prevent horse reinfection. Horses in the chicory group mostly grazed chicory (89% of the bites), while those of the control group grazed mainly grasses (73%). Cyathostomins egg excretion decreased in both groups throughout the experiment. Accounting for this trajectory, the fecal egg count reduction (FECR) measured in individuals grazing chicory relative to control individuals increased from 72.9% at day 16 to 85.5% at the end of the study. In addition, larval development in feces from horses grazed on chicory was reduced by more than 60% from d31 compared to control individuals. Using a metabarcoding approach, we also evidenced a significant decrease in cyathostomin species abundance in horses grazing chicory. Chicory extract enriched in sesquiterpenes lactones was tested on two cyathostomins isolates. The estimated IC50 was high (1 and 3.4 mg/ml) and varied according to the pyrantel sensitivity status of the worm isolate. We conclude that the grazing of chicory (cv. Puna II) by horses is a promising strategy for reducing cyathostomin egg excretion and larval development that may contribute to lower the reliance on synthetic anthelmintics. The underpinning modes of action remain to be explored further.

Pasture-based fattening does not cause severe nonperforating lesions in veal calves of dairy breeds

Abomasal damage is a known health issue in intensive veal production and is associated with improper housing and feeding. Grass-based veal production could be an improvement, as access to pasture allows the expression of natural behaviors, such as species-specific foraging, and thus can contribute to calf welfare. However, data on the abomasal health of grazed calves have not yet been reported. As feed composition can affect the severity of mucosal damage, we compared the abomasa of calves that grazed on 2 swards with different plant composition. From 2018 to 2020, 111 calves of 2 dairy breeds, German Holstein and Jersey, were kept in whole-day strip grazing on these swards. Calves were sampled regularly for intestinal parasites and anthelmintic drug use was recorded. The animals were slaughtered at an age of 32 ± 2 wk (mean ± standard deviation) after individually varying grazing periods of 75 ± 22 d. After slaughter, dissection revealed that 104 of the 111 abomasa displayed low-grade nonperforating lesions, which were primarily located in the pyloric part. A more severe nonperforating lesion was registered in one calf only. In 46 abomasa, we observed diffuse inflammation. This inflammation was characterized by normal mucosal rugae but with slight discoloration that varied in the degree of redness and proliferation of the mucosa. Sward composition and breed did not affect the occurrence of abomasal lesions, but treatment with anthelmintics was negatively correlated with diffuse inflammation. Compared with the abomasa of calves fed under intensive conditions, the abomasa of calves kept on pasture in this study were not as severely altered, but completely unaffected abomasa were rarely observed either. This raises the question to what extent the observed changes in the abomasum were caused by husbandry and feeding conditions or whether they correspond to the normal condition of grazing animals.

Dietary non-starch polysaccharides impair immunity to enteric nematode infection

BACKGROUND

The influence of diet on immune function and resistance to enteric infection and disease is becoming ever more established. Highly processed, refined diets can lead to inflammation and gut microbiome dysbiosis, whilst health-promoting dietary components such as phytonutrients and fermentable fibres are thought to promote a healthy microbiome and balanced mucosal immunity. Chicory (Cichorium intybus) is a leafy green vegetable rich in fibres and bioactive compounds that may promote gut health.

RESULTS

Unexpectedly, we here show that incorporation of chicory into semisynthetic AIN93G diets renders mice susceptible to infection with enteric helminths. Mice fed a high level of chicory leaves (10% dry matter) had a more diverse gut microbiota, but a diminished type-2 immune response to infection with the intestinal roundworm Heligmosomoides polygyrus. Furthermore, the chicory-supplemented diet significantly increased burdens of the caecum-dwelling whipworm Trichuris muris, concomitant with a highly skewed type-1 immune environment in caecal tissue. The chicory-supplemented diet was rich in non-starch polysaccharides, particularly uronic acids (the monomeric constituents of pectin). In accordance, mice fed pectin-supplemented AIN93G diets had higher T. muris burdens and reduced IgE production and expression of genes involved in type-2 immunity. Importantly, treatment of pectin-fed mice with exogenous IL-25 restored type-2 responses and was sufficient to allow T. muris expulsion.

CONCLUSIONS

Collectively, our data suggest that increasing levels of fermentable, non-starch polysaccharides in refined diets compromises immunity to helminth infection in mice. This diet-infection interaction may inform new strategies for manipulating the gut environment to promote resistance to enteric parasites.

Anthelmintic-Like Activity and Ultrastructure Changes Produced by Two Polyphenolic Combinations against Cooperia punctata Adult Worms and Infective Larvae

Cooperia punctata is one of the most prevalent gastrointestinal nematodes affecting cattle under grazing conditions, and the increasing reports of anthelmintic resistance forces researchers to look for novel control measures. Previous reports have proposed the use of polyphenolic compound (PC) combinations (Coumarin:Quercetin (CuQ) and Caffeic-acid:Rutin (CaR)) against free-living stages (L₃) of C. punctata. The objective of this study was to assess the in vitro motility inhibition of C. punctata adult worms and infective larvae using the Larval Motility Inhibition Assay (LMIA) and Adult Motility Inhibition Assay (AMIA), and to assess the structural and ultrastructural changes induced by both treatments using Scanning and Transmission Electron Microscopy. For the LMIA, infective larvae were incubated for 3 h in 0.8 mg mL^-1 and 0.84 mg mL^-1 of CuQ and CaR, respectively. For AMIA, six concentrations and five incubation periods (2, 4, 6, 12 and 24 h) were assessed using each PC combination. Cooperia punctata motility was calculated as a percentage and corrected using control motility percentages. A multiple comparisons Brown-Forsythe and Welch ANOVA test was used to compare larval motility; and to fit the dose-response in AMIA, data were analyzed with a non-linear regression four-parameter logistic equation with a variable slope, using the computer program GraphPad Prism^® V.9.2.0. Although larval motility was barely affected by both treatments (p > 0.05), adult worm motility was inhibited 100% and 86.9% after 24 h incubation with CuQ and CaR, respectively (p < 0.05). The best fit EC₅₀ for adult worm motility inhibition were 0.073 ± 0.071 mg mL^-1 and 0.051 ± 0.164 mg mL^-1 for CuQ and CaR, respectively. Main structural and ultrastructural lesions observed in both biological stages were: (i) L₃ sheath-cuticle complex disruption, (ii) collagen fibers degradation; (iii) hypodermic detachment, (iv) seam cell apoptosis and (v) mitochondrial swelling. The alterations observed suggest that the PC combinations interfere with the anatomy and physiology of the locomotive apparatus of the nematodes.

Antiparasitic Tannin-Rich Plants from the South of Europe for Grazing Livestock: A Review

Internal parasites are one of the main causes of health threats in livestock production, especially in extensive livestock farming. Despite the environmental toxic effects (loss of dung beetles, biodiversity, and other issues) and resistance phenomenon derived from their prolonged use, anti-parasitic chemical pharmaceuticals are frequently used, even in organic farming. Such a situation within the context of climate change requires urgent exploration of alternative compounds to solve these problems and apparent conflicts between organic farming objectives regarding the environment, public health, and animal health. This review is focused on some plants (Artemisia spp., Cichorium intybus L., Ericaceae family, Hedysarum coronarium L., Lotus spp., Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) that are well known for their antiparasitic effect, are voluntarily grazed and ingested, and can be spontaneously found or cultivated in southern Europe and other regions with a Mediterranean climate. The differences found between effectiveness, parasite species affected, in vitro/in vivo experiments, and active compounds are explored. A total of 87 papers where antiparasitic activity of those plants have been studied are included in this review; 75% studied the effect on ruminant parasites, where gastrointestinal nematodes were the parasite group most studied (70%), and these included natural (31%) and experimental (37%) infections.

Anti-protozoal activity and metabolomic analyses of Cichorium intybus L. against Trypanosoma cruzi

Chagas disease, caused by the protozoa Trypanosoma cruzi, is a potentially life-threatening parasitic zoonosis infecting 6-7 million people worldwide, mainly in Latin America. Due to the limited numbers of drugs available against this neglected disease and their frequent adverse effects, novel anti-chagasic agents are urgently needed. Cichorium intybus L. (chicory) is a bioactive plant with potent activity against parasitic nematodes, but its effects on protozoans are poorly known and no studies have explored its trypanocidal potential. Here, we investigated the activity of C. intybus against extracellular and intracellular stages of T. cruzi, including the prediction of trypanocidal compounds by metabolomic analyses and bioactivity-based molecular networking. Purified C. intybus extracts were prepared from leaves and roots of five C. intybus cultivars (cv. 'Benulite', 'Goldine', 'Larigot', 'Maestoso' and 'Spadona'). All C. intybus extracts induced concentration-dependent effects against T. cruzi trypomastigotes. C. intybus leaf extracts had higher trypanocidal selectivity and lower cytotoxicity on mammalian cells than root extracts. The leaf extract of C. intybus cv. Goldine also significantly reduced the number of mammalian cells infected with T. cruzi amastigotes. Metabolomic and bioactivity-based molecular networking analyses revealed 11 compounds in C. intybus leaves strongly linked with activity against trypomastigotes, including the sesquiterpene lactone lactucin, and flavonoid- and fatty acid-derivatives. Furthermore, seven distinct C. intybus molecules (including two sesquiterpene lactone-derivatives) were predicted to be involved in reducing the number of mammalian cells infected with amastigotes. This is the first report of the anti-protozoal activity of C. intybus against trypanosomatid parasites and expands our understanding of the anti-parasitic effects of this plant and its bioactive metabolites. Further studies to elucidate the anti-protozoal compound(s) in C. intybus and their mode(s) of action will improve our knowledge of using this bioactive plant as a promising source of novel broad-spectrum anti-parasitic compounds with associated health benefits and biomedical potential.

Anthelmintic resistance in ruminants: challenges and solutions

Anthelmintic resistance (AR) is a growing concern for effective parasite control in farmed ruminants globally. Combatting AR will require intensified and integrated research efforts in the development of innovative diagnostic tests to detect helminth infections and AR, sustainable anthelmintic treatment strategies and the development of complementary control approaches such as vaccination and plant-based control. It will also require a better understanding of socio-economic drivers of anthelmintic treatment decisions, in order to support a behavioural shift and develop targeted communication strategies that promote the uptake of evidence-based sustainable solutions. Here, we review the state-of-the-art in these different fields of research activity related to AR in helminths of livestock ruminants in Europe and beyond. We conclude that in the advent of new challenges and solutions emerging from continuing spread of AR and intensified research efforts, respectively, there is a strong need for transnational multi-actor initiatives. These should involve all key stakeholders to develop indicators of infection and sustainable control, set targets and promote good practices to achieve them.

Chicory: Understanding the Effects and Effectors of This Functional Food

Industrial chicory has been the subject of numerous studies, most of which provide clinical observations on its health effects. Whether it is the roasted root, the flour obtained from the roots or the different classes of molecules that enter into the composition of this plant, understanding the molecular mechanisms of action on the human organism remains incomplete. In this study, we were interested in three molecules or classes of molecules present in chicory root: fructose, chlorogenic acids, and sesquiterpene lactones. We conducted experiments on the murine model and performed a nutrigenomic analysis, a metabolic hormone assay and a gut microbiota analysis, associated with in vitro observations for different responses. We have highlighted a large number of effects of all these classes of molecules that suggest a pro-apoptotic activity, an anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic effect and also an important role in appetite regulation. A significant prebiotic activity was also identified. Fructose seems to be the most involved in these activities, contributing to approximately 83% of recorded responses, but the other classes of tested molecules have shown a specific role for these different effects, with an estimated contribution of 23-24%.

Anthelmintic resistance: is a solution possible?

More than 50 years after anthelmintic resistance was first identified, its prevalence and impact on the animal production industry continues to increase across the world. The term "anthelmintic resistance" (AR) can be briefly defined as the reduction in efficacy of a certain dose of anthelmintic drugs (AH) in eliminating the presence of a parasite population that was previously susceptible. The main aim of this study is to examine anthelmintic resistance in domestic herbivores. There are numerous factors playing a role in the development of AR, but the most important is livestock management. The price of AH and the need to treat a high number of animals mean that farmers face significant costs in this regard, yet, since 1981, little progress has been made in the discovery of new molecules and the time and cost required to bring a new AH to market has increased dramatically in recent decades. Furthermore, resistance has also emerged for new AH, such as monepantel or derquantel. Consequently, ruminant parasitism cannot be controlled solely by using synthetic chemicals. A change in approach is needed, using a range of preventive measures in order to achieve a sustainable control programme. The use of nematophagous fungi or of plant extracts rich in compounds with anthelmintic properties, such as terpenes, condensed tannins, or flavonoids, represent potential alternatives. Nevertheless, although new approaches are showing promising results, there is still much to do. More research focused on the control of AR is needed.

Identification of compounds responsible for the anthelmintic effects of chicory (Cichorium intybus) by molecular networking and bio-guided fractionation

Increasing resistance towards anthelmintic drugs has necessitated the search for alternative treatments for the control of gastrointestinal nematode parasites. Animals fed on chicory (Cichorium intybus L.), a temperate (pasture) crop, have reduced parasite burdens, hence making C. intybus a potentially useful source for novel anthelmintic compounds or a diet-based preventive/therapeutic option. Here, we utilized in vitro bioassays with the parasitic nematode Ascaris suum and molecular networking techniques with five chicory cultivars to identify putative active compounds. Network analysis predicted sesquiterpene lactones (SL) as the most likely group of anthelmintic compounds. Further bioassay-guided fractionation supported these predictions, and isolation of pure compounds demonstrated that the SL 8-deoxylactucin (8-DOL) is the compound most strongly associated with anti-parasitic activity. Furthermore, we showed that 8-DOL acts in a synergistic combination with other SL to exert the anti-parasitic effects. Finally, we established that chicory-derived extracts also showed activity against two ruminant nematodes (Teladorsagia circumcincta and Cooperia oncophora) in in vitro assays. Collectively, our results confirm the anti-parasitic activity of chicory against a range of nematodes, and pave the way for targeted extraction of active compounds or selective breeding of specific cultivars to optimize its future use in human and veterinary medicine.

Chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) as a food ingredient - Nutritional composition, bioactivity, safety, and health claims: A review

Chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) is a perennial herb from the Cichorium genus, Asteraceae family, and is worldwide cultivated. So far, chicory has been used mainly in animal feed, but also in several cases in the food industry: as salad, for teas and tea blends, for coffee supplementation, and as a source for the inulin production. Nowadays there is an increasing interest in chicory utilization for food production and supplementation. Some compounds present in chicory, such as polyphenols, inulin, oligofructose and sesquiterpene lactones may be considered as potential carriers of food functionality. This review describes nutritional, mineral and bioactive composition of the chicory plant and summarized the main biological activities associated with the presence of bioactive compounds in the different plant parts. Finally, the review explores possibilities of uses of chicory and its implementation in food products, with intention to design new functional foods.

Anthelmintic and metabolomic analyses of chicory (Cichorium intybus) identify an industrial by-product with potent in vitro antinematodal activity

Chicory (Cichorium intybus) is a bioactive forage rich in sesquiterpene lactones (SLs) with reported in vitro and in vivo anthelmintic activity in livestock. However, the on-farm adoption of chicory as an anthelmintic crop is limited and may be facilitated by using standardised industrial chicory material. Chicory root pulp is a by-product obtained from industrial chicory roots after inulin extraction and can potentially retain SLs. However, SL content and associated anthelmintic activity of chicory root pulp have not been investigated. Here, we evaluated the anthelmintic activity of SL-enriched extracts from chicory root pulp and forage chicory, and used untargeted metabolomics and molecular networking to identify potential anthelmintic molecules. Six different sources of chicory material were used: fresh chicory root pulp (from industrial chicory roots C. intybus var. sativum; "Root Pulp"), fresh leaves from chicory cv. Spadona (sampled on four occasions) and fresh leaves from chicory cv. Choice. The resulting extracts were tested for anthelmintic activity against the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and the pig nematode Ascaris suum. The cytotoxicity of the chicory extracts was evaluated on mammalian (Vero) cells. In the C. elegans assays, the Root Pulp was the most potent extract and induced paralysis in >95% of worms exposed to >250  μg extract/mL (EC50 = 64.2 μg/mL). In the A. suum assays, the Root Pulp was also the most potent chicory extract to inhibit worm motility (EC50 = 87.6  μg/mL), followed closely by two of the Spadona leaf extracts (EC50 = 89.8  μg/mL and 112.2  μg/mL) The Root Pulp extract had the lowest cytotoxicity of all tested extracts towards mammalian cells, with a selectivity index of 5.37. Untargeted metabolomics revealed that chicory Root Pulp had a markedly different chemical profile in comparison with forage chicory extracts. Molecular networking confirmed several SLs and SL-derivatives mainly present in chicory root pulp, that may be responsible of its potent anti-parasitic activity. Bioactivity-based molecular networking of chicory root pulp and the most potent forage chicory extracts revealed a high predicted anthelmintic score for the guaianolide SL 11,13-dihydro-lactucopicrin. In conclusion, chicory root pulp showed potent and selective in vitro anthelmintic activity against C. elegans and A. suum, with low cytotoxicity in mammalian cells. The promising anthelmintic activity of chicory root pulp should be confirmed in vivo to further explore the potential of this agro-industrial by-product as a nutraceutical anthelmintic for livestock and as novel source of anti-parasitic compounds.

Anti-protozoal activity of extracts from chicory (Cichorium intybus) against Cryptosporidium parvum in cell culture

Cryptosporidium spp. are responsible for severe public health problems and livestock production losses. Treatment options are limited to only one drug available for human and bovine cryptosporidiosis, respectively, and both drugs exhibit only partial efficacy. Sesquiterpene lactones (SL) are plant bioactive compounds that function as a defence mechanism against herbivores. SL have demonstrated anti-parasitic properties against a range of parasitic taxa but knowledge about their anti-Cryptosporidium efficacy is limited. The effect of SL-rich leaf and root extracts from chicory (Cichorium intybus cv. Spadona) was investigated using human colon adenocarcinoma (HCT-8) cells infected with Cryptosporidium parvum. C. parvum oocysts were inoculated onto the cell monolayer and i) incubated for 4 hours with extracts (leaf and root extracts 300, 150, 75, 37.5, 18.75 and 9.375 μg/mL) in triplicates followed by incubation in bioactive free media (sporozoite invasion assays) or ii) incubated for 4 hours in bioactive free media followed by 48-hours incubation with extracts (growth inhibition assays). Extract toxicity on HCT-8 cells was assessed via water-soluble tetrazolium (WST)-1 assay prior to quantifying parasitic growth via immunofluorescence. Both extracts demonstrated dose-dependent inhibition in the growth inhibition assays (p = < 0.0001 for both extracts) but not in the invasion assays. Anti-parasitic activity did not appear to be solely related to SL content, with the extract with lower SL content (leaf) exhibiting higher inhibition at 300 μg/ml. However, given the limited treatment options available for Cryptosporidium spp., our study encourages further investigation into the use of chicory extracts to identify novel active compound(s) inhibiting these protozoa.

Antiparasitic activity of chicory (Cichorium intybus) and its natural bioactive compounds in livestock: a review

Increasing drug resistance in gastrointestinal (GI) parasites of livestock and concerns about chemical residues in animal products and the environment are driving the development of alternative control strategies that are less reliant on the use of synthetic drugs. An increasingly investigated approach is the use of bioactive forages with antiparasitic properties as part of the animal's diet (nutraceuticals) or as potential sources of novel, natural parasiticides. Chicory (Cichorium intybus) is a multi-purpose crop and one of the most promising bioactive forages in temperate regions, and numerous in vivo trials have explored its potential against parasitic nematodes in livestock. However, it is unclear whether chicory can induce a direct and broad activity against various GI parasites in different livestock species, and the levels of chicory in the diet that are required to exert an efficient antiparasitic effect. Moreover, the mechanisms leading to the reported parasiticidal activity of chicory are still largely unknown, and its bioactive phytochemicals have only recently been investigated. In this review, we summarise the progress in the study of the antiparasitic activity of chicory and its natural bioactive compounds against GI parasites in livestock, through examination of the published literature. The available evidence indicates that feeding chicory can reduce faecal egg counts and/or worm burdens of abomasal nematodes, but not infections with intestinal worms, in ruminants. Highly chicory-rich diets (≥ 70% of chicory dry matter in the diet) may be necessary to directly affect abomasal parasitism. Chicory is known to synthesise several bioactive compounds with potential antiparasitic activity, but most research has been devoted to the role of sesquiterpene lactones (SL). Recent in vitro studies have confirmed direct and potent activity of SL-rich extracts from chicory against different GI helminths of livestock. Chicory SL have also been reported to exhibit antimalarial properties and its potential antiprotozoal activity in livestock remains to be evaluated. Furthermore, the detailed identification of the main antiparasitic metabolites of chicory and their pharmacokinetics need further confirmation. Research gaps and perspectives on the potential use of chicory as a nutraceutical forage and a source of bioactive compounds for parasite control in livestock are discussed.