Antifilarial activity of ethyl acetate extract of Vitex negundo leaves in vitro

In vitro and in vivo anthelmintic response of the seeds of Amomum subulatum roxb and Vitex negundo

Abstract The current study was designed to check the anthelmintic activities of some local plants. Seeds of Amomum (A.) subulatum and Vitex (V.) negundo in different solvents were subjected to in vitro (adult motility assay; AMA and egg hatch assay; EHA) and in vivo (faecal egg count reduction test; FECRT) anthelmintic activity testing protocols using Haemonchus (H.) contortus as an experimental model. The results of AMA, EHA, and FECRT were statistically analysed through linear regression and Duncan multiple range test. In AMA test, at 50 mg mL-1 concentration, the percent mortality of H. contortus was higher in A. subulatum than V. negundo, whereas, in EHA test, A. subulatum was proven better ovicidal (LC50=14.2 µg mL-1) than V. negundo (LC50= 65.7405 µg mL-1). The FECRT also indicated the better efficacy of A. subulatum than V. negundo against natural infection of gastrointestinal (GI) parasites. The crude powder of plants used in this study showed 29.6% to 57.7% anthelmintic. The reduction rate was found higher for A. subulatum (3 g kg-1) as compared to V. negundo (7 g kg-1). Reagrding efficacy analysis of solvents used for plants extract, ethyl acetate and chloroform were found better in increasing ovicidal activity in adult worms (in vitro testing), whereas, the crude aqueous methanol was found better than the crude powders in in vivo testing. It will be beneficial to document the indigenous knowledge to standard scientific procedures for their validation. This study will help to motivate the farmers to make a better choice of cultivation of the indigenous plants because of their varying efficacies as an alternative preventive approach against the GI parasitic infections.

A Prospective Review on Phyto-pharmacological Aspects of Vitex negundo Linn

Background:

Vitex negundo Linn. commonly known as five leave chase tree is an ethnobotanically important drug in traditional system of medicine. The plant is widely distributed in India, China and other Asian and American countries.

Objective:

The review aims at presenting comprehensive information with respect to ethnopharmacological relevance and recent findings on phytochemical and biological activities of Vitex negundo.

Method:

Literature was collected from various sources such as pubmed, scopus, science direct, and others.

Results:

Extracts and secondary metabolites of this plant, particularly those from roots and leaves, possess useful pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antioxidant, antimicrobial, galactagogue, antigastric, antiflatulant, antiparasitic, analgesic, hepatoprotective and antihypertensive, some of which have been validated scientifically. All parts of the plant especially leave and roots contain a large number of bioactive phytoconstituents including flavonoids, iridoids, lignans, volatile oil, terpenes, coumarins, phenolic and steroidal compounds which impart multiple medicinal properties. Vitexin, isovitexin, viridifol, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid and isochlorogenic acid are the main components.

Conclusion:

The review emphasizes the medicinal importance of Vitex negundo and its bioactive constituents in the traditional system of medicine.

The Epitome of Novel Techniques and Targeting Approaches in Drug Delivery for Treating Lymphatic Filariasis

BACKGROUND

Lymphatic filariasis is a pervasive and life-threatening disease for human beings. Currently, 893 million people in 49 countries worldwide affected by lymphatic filariasis as per WHO statistics. The concealed aspects of lymphatic diseases such as delayed disease detection, inappropriate disease imaging, the geographical outbreak of infection, and lack of preventive chemotherapy have brought this epidemic to the edge of Neglected Tropical Diseases. Many medications and natural bioactive substances have seen to promote filaricidal activity against the target parasitic species. However, the majority of failures have occurred in pharmaceutical and pharmacokinetic issues.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of the study is to focus on the challenges and therapeutic issues in the treatment of filariasis. The review brings novel techniques and therapeutic approaches for combating lymphatic filariasis. It also offers significant developments and opportunities for such therapeutic interventions.

CONCLUSION

Through this review, an attempt has made to critically evaluate the avenues of innovative pharmaceuticals and molecular targeting approaches to bring an integrated solution to combat lymphatic filariasis.

In-vitro and in silico efficacy of isolated alkaloid compounds from Rauvolfia tetraphylla L. against bovine filarial parasite Setaria cervi: a drug discovery approach

Bioassay guided isolation from the leaves of Rauvolfia tetraphylla L. resulted in the isolation and characterization of three compounds of alkaloid in nature namely, Curan-17-oic acid (F1); 18, 19-Secoyohimban (F2) and Reserpiline (F3). Macrofilaricidal activity of three compounds was tested against bovine filarial parasite Setaria cervi using in vitro assays and supported by in silico docking analysis on glutathione-S-transferase (GST) enzyme of Wuchereria bancrofti. All the molecules inhibited GST enzyme to some extent 35.78%, 78.22% and 64.21% respectively. Results were supported by molecular docking studies, which showed docking scores for compound F1 (- 5.14), compound F2 (- 7.19) and compound F3 (- 7.2) on GST enzyme. Thus, in conclusion the in vitro and in silico studies indicated that isolated compounds are promising, inexpensive and widely available natural leads, which can be designed and developed into the macrofilaricidal drugs.

Antifilarial and Antibiotic Activities of Methanolic Extracts of Melaleuca cajuputi Flowers

We evaluated the activity of methanolic extracts of Melaleuca cajuputi flowers against the filarial worm Brugia pahangi and its bacterial endosymbiont Wolbachia. Anti-Wolbachia activity was measured in worms and in Aedes albopictus Aa23 cells by PCR, electron microscopy, and other biological assays. In particular, microfilarial release, worm motility, and viability were determined. M. cajuputi flower extracts were found to significantly reduce Wolbachia endosymbionts in Aa23 cells, Wolbachia surface protein, and microfilarial release, as well as the viability and motility of adult worms. Anti-Wolbachia activity was further confirmed by observation of degraded and phagocytized Wolbachia in worms treated with the flower extracts. The data provided in vitro and in vivo evidence that M. cajuputi flower extracts inhibit Wolbachia, an activity that may be exploited as an alternative strategy to treat human lymphatic filariasis.

Essential proteins and possible therapeutic targets of Wolbachia endosymbiont and development of FiloBase--a comprehensive drug target database for Lymphatic filariasis

Lymphatic filariasis (Lf) is one of the oldest and most debilitating tropical diseases. Millions of people are suffering from this prevalent disease. It is estimated to infect over 120 million people in at least 80 nations of the world through the tropical and subtropical regions. More than one billion people are in danger of getting affected with this life-threatening disease. Several studies were suggested its emerging limitations and resistance towards the available drugs and therapeutic targets for Lf. Therefore, better medicine and drug targets are in demand. We took an initiative to identify the essential proteins of Wolbachia endosymbiont of Brugia malayi, which are indispensable for their survival and non-homologous to human host proteins. In this current study, we have used proteome subtractive approach to screen the possible therapeutic targets for wBm. In addition, numerous literatures were mined in the hunt for potential drug targets, drugs, epitopes, crystal structures, and expressed sequence tag (EST) sequences for filarial causing nematodes. Data obtained from our study were presented in a user friendly database named FiloBase. We hope that information stored in this database may be used for further research and drug development process against filariasis. URL: http://filobase.bicpu.edu.in.