The activities of drug-metabolizing enzymes in goats treated orally with the latex of Calotropis procera and the influence of dieldrin pretreatment

Chemical constituents of Calotropis procera latex and ultrastructural effects on Haemonchus contortus

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the anthelmintic and ultrastructural effects of Calotropis procera latex on Haemonchus contortus. C. procera latex was twice centrifuged at 10,000×g and dialyzed to obtain a fraction rich in proteins, named LP (latex protein), and at 3,000 rpm to obtain a fraction rich in secondary metabolites, named LNP (latex non-protein). Specimens of H. contortus exposed to LNP, LP and PBS in the Adult Worm Motility Test (AWMT) were submitted to scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy to verify changes in their ultrastructure. Phytochemical tests in the LNP indicated the presence of phenols, steroids, alkaloids and cardenolides. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) characterized the presence of the compounds gallic acid and quercetin in the LNP. The protein content in the LP was 43.1 ± 1.1 mg/mL and 7.7 ± 0.3 mg/mL in LNP. In AWMT, LNP and LP inhibited the motility of 100% of the nematodes, with LNP being more effective than LP and ivermectin more effective than both (p <0.05). Cuticle changes were observed by SEM and TEM in nematodes treated with LP and LNP. Calotropis procera latex has anthelmintic effects against H. contortus, causing damage to its cuticle and other alterations in its ultrastructure.

Latex proteins from the plant Calotropis procera are partially digested upon in vitro enzymatic action and are not immunologically detected in fecal material

Soluble proteins from the latex of Calotropis procera (LP) were investigated in vitro and in vivo for digestibility as the latex has previously been shown to produce considerable toxic effects on animals. The latex is also an important biologically active compound that displays antiinflammatory and antidiarrhea properties. The proteins were digested by the action of trypsin, pepsin or chemotrypsin as revealed by gel filtration and SDS-PAGE analysis. Furthermore, the full LP digestion was easily achieved by protease treatment. Rabbit polyclonal antibodies raised against LP failed to detect cross-reactive molecules in fecal material of experimental rats following 35 consecutive days of LP consumption in water. Similar patterns of electrophoresis were observed for the negligible amounts of protein observed in the fecal extracts of control and test animals. No death or toxic effects were observed among animals. Taken together these results suggest that harmful and toxic effects on animals of the latex from C. procera are present in its rubber and low molecular weight fractions rather than its protein content.

The hepatic and duodenal activities of some drug metabolizing enzymes in chickens: influence of infection with Escherichia coli endotoxin and coccidiosis

The activities of the drug metabolizing enzymes aminopyrine-N-demethylase, aniline hydroxylase and UDP-glucuronyl transferase, together with protein concentration, were measured in liver microsomes and duodenal mucosa from healthy chickens and chickens experimentally infected with Escherichia coli endotoxin, or naturally infected with Eimeria necatrix and Eimeria tenella (clinically classified as slight, moderate or severe infections). E. coli (2 mg/kg, 3 days) and severe coccidiosis significantly decreased the activities of the three enzymes in the liver and duodenum. However, infection by the E. coli endotoxin at lower doses (0.5 and 1 mg/kg, 3 days) and moderate or slight coccidial infections had no significant effect on the activities of these enzymes. Neither E. coli nor coccidial infections significantly affected the liver/body weight ratio. However, infection with the E. coli endotoxin (2 mg/kg, 3 days) and the moderate or severe coccidial infections significantly reduced microsomal protein concentration in the liver.