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Albani CM, Iglesias A, Albanese A, Fuentes G, Orallo D, Maggi M, Elissondo MC. Evaluation of the Protoscolicidal Activity of Humulus lupulus Methanolic Extracts on Echinococcus granulosus Sensu Stricto. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE : ECAM 2024; 2024:6251666. [PMID: 38605998 PMCID: PMC11008976 DOI: 10.1155/2024/6251666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
The larval stage of the parasite Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (s.l) is responsible for cystic echinococcosis (CE), a long-term infection affecting humans and animals worldwide, and constitutes a serious public health concern. If left untreated, CE can cause serious damage to multiple organs, especially the liver and lungs. Regarding the treatment, in the last few years, the use of pharmacological treatment has increased, suggesting that in the future, drug therapy may replace surgery for uncomplicated cysts. However, the only available anthelmintic drug to treat this infection is the albendazole, which has an efficacy that does not exceed 50%. On the basis of the above-mentioned evidence, new and improved alternative treatments are urgently needed. The use of natural products and their active fractions and components holds great promise as a valuable resource for the development of novel and effective therapies. Hop (Humulus lupulus L.) is a bittering agent in the brewing industry for which the sedative, digestive, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial effects have been reported. The purpose of this study was to assess the in vitro efficacy of methanolic extracts from the leaves of hop varieties against E. granulosus sensu stricto (s.s) protoscoleces. Varieties Mapuche and Victoria caused a stronger protoscolicidal effect compared to the Bullion, Cascade, and Traful varieties (P < 0.01), coinciding with their highest content of flavonoids, total polyphenols, and saponins. The viability of protoscoleces treated with the varieties Mapuche and Victoria decreased to approximately 50% at days 5 y 8, respectively, showing alterations such as soma contraction and impaired microtriches. After 18 days of treatment with both varieties, protoscoleces were completely altered both structurally and ultrastructurally. In conclusion, the methanolic extracts of the H. lupulus varieties Mapuche and Victoria demonstrated a marked in vitro effect against E. granulosus s.s. protoscoleces. The beer-making industry exclusively uses hop cones, leaving behind large amounts of hop leaves as an agricultural by-product that is not being utilized. On the basis of our study, we propose that hop leaves could also be used as a source of secondary metabolites with anthelmintic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara María Albani
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción Sanidad y Ambiente (IIPROSAM CONICET-UNMdP), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales-UNMdP, Centro Científico Tecnológico Mar del Plata-CONICET, Centro de Asociación Simple CIC PBA, Mar del Plata, Argentina
- Laboratorio de Zoonosis Parasitarias, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (FCEyN), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP), Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Azucena Iglesias
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción Sanidad y Ambiente (IIPROSAM CONICET-UNMdP), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales-UNMdP, Centro Científico Tecnológico Mar del Plata-CONICET, Centro de Asociación Simple CIC PBA, Mar del Plata, Argentina
- Centro de Investigación en Abejas Sociales, FCEyN, UNMdP, Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Adriana Albanese
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción Sanidad y Ambiente (IIPROSAM CONICET-UNMdP), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales-UNMdP, Centro Científico Tecnológico Mar del Plata-CONICET, Centro de Asociación Simple CIC PBA, Mar del Plata, Argentina
- Laboratorio de Zoonosis Parasitarias, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (FCEyN), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP), Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Giselle Fuentes
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción Sanidad y Ambiente (IIPROSAM CONICET-UNMdP), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales-UNMdP, Centro Científico Tecnológico Mar del Plata-CONICET, Centro de Asociación Simple CIC PBA, Mar del Plata, Argentina
- Centro de Investigación en Abejas Sociales, FCEyN, UNMdP, Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Dalila Orallo
- Departamento de Química y Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Funes 3350, Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires 7600, Argentina
| | - Matías Maggi
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción Sanidad y Ambiente (IIPROSAM CONICET-UNMdP), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales-UNMdP, Centro Científico Tecnológico Mar del Plata-CONICET, Centro de Asociación Simple CIC PBA, Mar del Plata, Argentina
- Centro de Investigación en Abejas Sociales, FCEyN, UNMdP, Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Celina Elissondo
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción Sanidad y Ambiente (IIPROSAM CONICET-UNMdP), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales-UNMdP, Centro Científico Tecnológico Mar del Plata-CONICET, Centro de Asociación Simple CIC PBA, Mar del Plata, Argentina
- Laboratorio de Zoonosis Parasitarias, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (FCEyN), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP), Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Kaethner M, Preza M, Kaempfer T, Zumstein P, Tamponi C, Varcasia A, Hemphill A, Brehm K, Lundström-Stadelmann B. Establishment and application of unbiased in vitro drug screening assays for the identification of compounds against Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011343. [PMID: 37540716 PMCID: PMC10431624 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Echinococcus multilocularis and E. granulosus s.l. are the causative agents of alveolar and cystic echinococcosis, respectively. Drug treatment options for these severe and neglected diseases are limited to benzimidazoles, which are not always efficacious, and adverse side effects are reported. Thus, novel and improved treatments are needed. In this study, the previously established platform for E. multilocularis in vitro drug assessment was adapted to E. granulosus s.s. In a first step, in vitro culture protocols for E. granulosus s.s. were established. This resulted in the generation of large amounts of E. granulosus s.s. metacestode vesicles as well as germinal layer (GL) cells. In vitro culture of these cells formed metacestode vesicles displaying structural characteristics of metacestode cysts generated in vivo. Next, drug susceptibilities of E. multilocularis and E. granulosus s.s. protoscoleces, metacestode vesicles and GL cells were comparatively assessed employing established assays including (i) metacestode vesicle damage marker release assay, (ii) metacestode vesicle viability assay, (iii) GL cell viability assay, and (iv) protoscolex motility assay. The standard drugs albendazole, buparvaquone, mefloquine, MMV665807, monepantel, niclosamide and nitazoxanide were included. MMV665807, niclosamide and nitazoxanide were active against the parasite in all four assays against both species. MMV665807 and monepantel were significantly more active against E. multilocularis metacestode vesicles, while albendazole and nitazoxanide were significantly more active against E. multilocularis GL cells. Albendazole displayed activity against E. multilocularis GL cells, but no effects were seen in albendazole-treated E. granulosus s.s. GL cells within five days. Treatment of protoscoleces with albendazole and monepantel had no impact on motility. Similar results were observed for both species with praziquantel and its enantiomers against protoscoleces. In conclusion, in vitro culture techniques and drug screening methods previously established for E. multilocularis were successfully implemented for E. granulosus s.s., allowing comparisons of drug efficacy between the two species. This study provides in vitro culture techniques for the reliable generation of E. granulosus s.s. metacestode vesicles and GL cell cultures and describes the validation of standardized in vitro drug screening methods for E. granulosus s.s.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Kaethner
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Switzerland
- Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Matías Preza
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Tobias Kaempfer
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Switzerland
- Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Pascal Zumstein
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Claudia Tamponi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Italy
| | | | - Andrew Hemphill
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Klaus Brehm
- Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Germany
| | - Britta Lundström-Stadelmann
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Switzerland
- Multidisciplinary Center for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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