Composition and Molluscicidal Properties of Essential Oils from Leaves ofXylopia langsdorffianaA. St. Hil. et Tul. (Annonaceae)

Molluskicidal nanoemulsion of Neomitranthes obscura (DC.) N. Silveira for schistosomiasis control

Schistosomiasis is caused by the parasite Schistosoma mansoni, which uses mollusks of the Biomphalaria genus as intermediate hosts. In 2020, approximately 241 million people worldwide underwent treatment for schistosomiasis. For this reason, the World Health Organization encourages research on alternative molluskicides based on plant species. The objective of this work was to investigate Neomitranthes obscura essential oil from leaf chemical composition and its essential oil nanoemulsion activity on intermediate hosts of schistosomiasis Biomphalaria glabrata control. The major chemical components of the Neomitranthes obscura essential oil were zonarene, seline-3,7(11)-diene, β-selinene, and α-selinene. The nanoemulsion tested using 24-well plate methodology showed lethality and juvenile mollusks with LC90 values of 53.9 and 25.0 ppm after 48 h, respectively, and on their spawning with an LC90 of 66.2 ppm after 48 h. Additionally, the nanoemulsion exhibited an LC90 value against the infective form of the parasite Schistosoma mansoni of 11.5 ppm after 4 h. This pharmaceutical formulation acted inhibiting the acetylcholinesterase activity and was not toxic for Mellanoides sp. This result suggests the use of this nanoformulation as a promising alternative in the control of Biomphalaria glabrata and the transmission of schistosomiasis.

Pesticidal Activities of Callicarpa and Premna Essential Oils From Vietnam

Mosquito-borne diseases are a consistent problem in Vietnam. Additionally, freshwater snail species are agricultural pests and are known to be intermediate hosts for several parasitic worms. There is a need for new and complementary botanical pesticidal agents for controlling these pests and essential oils have shown promise. In this work, essential oils from 2 species of Callicarpa ( C. rubella and C. sinuata) and 4 species of Premna ( P. chevalieri, P. corymbosa, P. maclurei, and P. tomentosa) were screened for mosquito larvicidal activity against Aedes albopictus and Culex quinquefasciatus and for molluscicidal activity against 3 freshwater snail species, Gyraulus convexiusculus, Pomacea canaliculata, and Tarebia granifera. Callicarpa rubella essential oil showed exceptional larvicidal activity against Cx. quinquefasciatus with 24-h LC50 of 9.8 μg/mL. In addition to C. rubella, the essential oils of P. chevalieri and P. tomentosa showed notable molluscicidal activities against P. canaliculata with LC90 values ≤ 20 μg/mL. These Callicarpa and Premna essential oils were all rich in sesquiterpenes and should be considered for continued investigation as botanical pesticidal agents.

Composition of the essential oils of three Malaysian Xylopia species (Annonaceae)

The rich and diversified Malaysian flora represents an excellent resource of new chemical structures with biological activities. The genus Xylopia L. includes aromatic plants that have both nutritional and medicinal uses. This study aims to contribute with information about the volatile components of three Xylopia species essential oils: Xylopia frutescens, Xylopia ferruginea, and Xylopia magna. In this study, essential oils were extracted from the leaves by a hydrodistillation process. The identification of the essential oil components was performed by gas chromatography (GC-FID) and gas chromatography-coupled mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The major components of the essential oils from X. frutescens were bicyclogermacrene (22.8%), germacrene D (14.2%), elemol (12.8%), and guaiol (12.8%), whereas components of the essential oils from X. magna were germacrene D (35.9%), bicyclogermacrene (22.8%), and spathulenol (11.1%). The X. ferruginea oil was dominated by bicyclogermacrene (23.6%), elemol (13.7%), guaiol (13.4%), and germacrene D (12.3%).

Essential oils as molluscicidal agents against schistosomiasis transmitting snails - a review

This review aims to describe essential oils with bioactivity on adult snails of the genera Bulinus and Biomphalaria, which are intermediate hosts of schistosomes, and brings together information relating to the importance of molluscicides and the chemical composition and toxicity of such oils for other aquatic species. Analysis of the data of original articles revealed that 50 essential oils obtained from 46 plant species were evaluated for molluscicidal activity against the genera cited. More than 80% of the volatile oils studied were active, according to the criteria of the World Health Organization (LC₉₀ or LC₁₀₀ ≤100 µg/mL or LC₅₀ <40 µg/mL), and most of the oils came from plants belonging to the Rutaceae, Lamiaceae and Pinaceae. Around 37% of the surveyed plant species were obtained in Brazil and 88% of these plants were collected in the northeast of the country, a region with a high prevalence of schistosomiasis mansoni. The essential oils with the highest toxicity against host snails had high levels of hydrocarbon monoterpenes and oxygenated monoterpenes, which may be responsible for the molluscicidal activity. Some volatile components were subjected to molluscicidal evaluation, and the monoterpene compounds exhibited a significant molluscicide effect. This review confirmed the importance of essential oils as a promising alternative for the development of natural molluscicide products. However, in order to be safe for use at sites where schistosome intermediate hosts are found, information on ecotoxicity is required and, to date, few oils have been tested against non-target aquatic species.

Nanoemulsion containing essential oil from Xylopia ochrantha Mart. produces molluscicidal effects against different species of Biomphalaria (Schistosoma hosts)

BACKGROUND

This work describes a chemical study of the essential oil from leaves of Xylopia ochrantha, an endemic Annonaceae species from Brazil, and its activity against Biomphalaria species. Considering its poor solubility in aqueous medium, the essential oil was nanoemulsified to evaluate its action on controlling some mollusc species of genus Biomphalaria, snail hosts of Schistosoma mansoni that causes schistosomiasis, which mainly affects tropical and subtropical countries.

OBJECTIVES

The main aims of this work were to analyse the chemical composition of essential oil from X. ochrantha, and to evaluate the effect of its nanoemulsion on molluscs of genus Biomphalaria and their oviposition.

METHODS

Chemical analysis was performed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Nanoemulsions were prepared by a low energy method and characterised by particle size and polydispersity index. Biological assays evaluating the mortality of adult species of B. glabrata, B. straminea and B. tenagophila and their ovipositions upon contact with the most stable nanoemulsion during 24 and 48 h were performed.

FINDINGS

Chemical analysis by mass spectrometry revealed the majority presence of bicyclogermacrene and germacrene D in the essential oil. The formulation with a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) of 9.26 was the most suitable for the oil delivery system. This nanoemulsion caused the mortality in B. tenagophila, B. straminea and B. glabarata of different sizes at levels ranging from 50 to 100% in 48 h. Additionally, the formulation could inhibit the development of deposited eggs.

CONCLUSION

Thus, these results suggest the use of nanoemulsified essential oil from X. ochrantha as a possible alternative in controlling some Biomphalaria species involved in the schistosomiasis cycle.

Essential oil from fruit of Xylopia langsdorffiana: antitumour activity and toxicity

CONTEXT

The genus Xylopia L. (Annonaceae) includes aromatic plants that have both nutritional and medicinal uses. Essential oils of Xylopia species have antitumour effects. However, the efficacy of the essential oil from the fruit of Xylopia langsdorffiana St. Hil & Tul. (EOX) has not been examined.

OBJECTIVE

EOX was evaluated to determine its chemical composition, antitumour activity and toxicity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

EOX was obtained from fresh fruits of X. langsdorffiana subjected to hydrodistillation, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to characterize the chemical composition of EOX. The toxicity of EOX was evaluated using haemolysis, acute toxicity and micronucleus assays. The in vitro antitumour activity of EOX was investigated using the sulforhodamine B assay. The sarcoma 180 murine tumour model was used to evaluate the in vivo antitumour activity and toxicity of EOX (50 and 100 mg/kg) after 7 d of treatment.

RESULTS

The major components of EOX were α-pinene (34.57%) and limonene (31.75%). The HC₅₀ (concentration producing 50% haemolysis) was 293.6 μg/ml. EOX showed greater selectivity for the leukaemia cell line K562, with total growth inhibition (TGI) (concentration producing TGI) of 1.8 μg/ml, and for multidrug-resistant ovarian tumour cell line NCI/ADR-RES (TGI of 45.4 μg/ml). The LD₅₀ was approximately 351.09 mg/kg. At doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg, EOX inhibited the in vivo growth of sarcoma 180 by 38.67 and 54.32%, respectively. EOX displayed minor hepatic alterations characteristic of acute hepatitis and induced no genotoxicity.

CONCLUSION

EOX showed in vitro and in vivo antitumour activity and low toxicity, which warrants further pharmacological studies.

Essential oil from the leaves of Xylopia langsdorfiana (Annonaceae) as a possible spasmolytic agent

Xylopia langsdorfiana A. St.-Hil. &Tul. (Annonaceae) is popularly known in the northeast of Brazil as 'pimenteira da terra', and an essential oil (XL-OE) was extracted from its leaves. Since Xylopia species are cited in folk medicine and diterpenes from X. langsdorfiana have spasmolytic activity, this study aimed to investigate a possible spasmolytic action of XL-OE on smooth muscle models. XL-OE (243 and 729 μg/mL) showed low pharmacologic efficacy on guinea pig trachea and rat aorta and uterus. However, in guinea pig ileum, XL-OE (27-729 μg/mL) inhibited carbachol or histamine-induced phasic contractions (1 μM) in a significant and concentration-dependent manner. In addition, XL-OE (81 μg/mL) reduced fluorescence intensity in ileal myocytes stimulated by histamine, indicating a decrease in cytosolic calcium concentration, which could explain the spasmolytic activity. Thus, XL-OE proved to be a promising natural product to be used in gastrointestinal diseases acting by modulating the cytosolic calcium concentration.

Molluscicidal and leishmanicidal activity of the leaf essential oil of Syzygium cumini (L.) SKEELS from Brazil

The chemical composition and biological potential of the essential oil extracted from Syzygium cumini leaves collected in Brazil were examined. GC/MS Analyses revealed a high abundance of monoterpenes (87.12%) in the oil. Eleven compounds were identified, with the major components being α-pinene (31.85%), (Z)-β-ocimene (28.98%), and (E)-β-ocimene (11.71%). To evaluate the molluscicidal effect of the oil, it was tested against Biomphalaria glabrata and the LC₅₀ obtained was 90 mg/l. The essential oil also showed significant activity against Leishmania amazonensis, with an IC50 value equal to 60 mg/l. In addition, to evaluate its toxicity towards a non-target organism, the essential oil was tested against Artemia salina and showed a LC₅₀ of 175 mg/l. Thus, the essential oil of S. cumini showed promising activity as a molluscicidal and leishmanicidal agent and might be valuable in combating neglected tropical diseases such as schistosomiasis and leishmaniasis. Further research is being conducted with regard to the purification and isolation of the most active essential-oil compounds.

Molluscicidal and larvicidal activities and essential oil composition of Cymbopogon winterianus

CONTEXT. Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt ex Bor (Poaceae), known as citronella grass, is an aromatic herbaceous plant and the essential oil extracted from this grass is used in cosmetics, perfumes, hygiene and cleanliness products worldwide.

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated the composition and molluscicidal and larvicidal activities of the essential oil of C. winterianus cultivated in North Brazil.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The oil was obtained by hydrodistillation, analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and GC-mass spectrometry and then its molluscicidal and larvicidal activities against snails (Biomphalaria glabrata) and hatched larvae of Artemia salina, respectively, were evaluated at concentrations from 10 to 1000 mg/L.

RESULTS

The main constituents of oil were citronellal (26.5%), geraniol (16.2%), elemol (14.5%) and citronellol (7.3%). The molluscicidal test revealed significant lethal concentration (LC) values (LC90=97.0 mg/L, LC50=54.0 mg/L and LC20=22.0 mg/L), indicating the presence of molluscicidal compounds in the oil. In addition, the oil showed moderate larvicidal activity (LC50=181.0 mg/L) against the larvae of A. salina, which could justify its use in the aquatic environment without affecting other living organisms.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

The results suggest that the oil of C. winterianus could be an effective alternative to control schistosomiasis, with an average margin of safety to other living organisms that coexist with snails.

Chemical Composition and Anti-Trypanosoma cruzi Activity of Essential Oils Obtained from Leaves of Xylopia frutescens and X. laevigata (Annonaceae)

Essential oils from leaves of Xylopia frutescens (XFMJ) and two specimens of Xylopia laevigata (XLMC and XLSI) were obtained by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus, and analyzed by GC-MS and GC-FID. Sesquiterpenes dominated the essential oils. The main constituents of XFMJ were ( E)-caryophyllene (24.8%), bicyclogermacrene (20.8%), germacrene D (17.0%), β-elemene (7.9%), and ( E)-β-ocimene (6.8%). XLMC contained significant quantities of germacrene D (18.9%), bicyclogermacrene (18.4%), β-elemene (9.5%), 5-selinene (9.2%), ( E)-caryophyllene (8.5%), germacrene B (5.7%) and γ-muurolene (5.7%), while germacrene D (27.0%), bicyclogermacrene (12.8%), ( E)-caryophyllene (8.6%), γ-muurolene (8.6%), 5-cadinene (6.8%), and germacrene B (6.0%) were the main components of XLSI. The essential oils had trypanocidal activity against the Y strain of Trypanosoma cruzi. with IC50 values lower than 30 μg.mL−1 and 15 μg.mL−1 against epimastigote and trypomastigote forms of T. cruzi. respectively, and were also able to reduce the percentage in vitro of T. cruzi-infected macrophages and the intracellular number of amastigotes at concentrations that were non-cytotoxic to macrophages.

Lack of association between Gly82Ser, 1704G/T and 2184A/G of RAGE gene polymorphisms and retinopathy susceptibility in Malaysian diabetic patients

Diabetic retinopathy is the most common diabetic eye disease, occurring in about 60% of type 2 diabetic patients. Other than known clinical risk factors, the influence of genes has been suggested as part of the development of diabetic retinopathy. We investigated the association of Gly82Ser, 1704G/T and 2184A/G polymorphisms in the RAGE gene with retinopathy in type 2 diabetic patients in Malaysia. Ninety-eight unrelated retinopathy patients and 185 unrelated healthy controls from all over Malaysia were recruited in this study. The allele and genotype frequencies of the three gene polymorphisms were investigated using PCR-RFLP. The allele frequency of the three polymorphisms did not differ significantly between the control and the retinopathy group (P > 0.05). Analysis of the frequency of GA+AA, GT+TT and AG+GG in the retinopathy group did not reveal significant differences (P > 0.05) compared to the control group. We conclude that RAGE gene Gly82Ser, 1704G/T and 2184A/G polymorphisms are not associated with retinopathy development in the Malaysian population.