title: Anthelmintic efficacy of Flemingia vestita (Fabaceae): Effect of genistein on glycogen metabolism in the cestode, Raillietina echinobothrida.
abstract: The edible root-tuber peel of Flemingia vestita and its major active component, genistein, have been earlier shown to have a vermifugal/vermicidal effect on cestodes in vitro by causing a flaccid paralysis and alterations in the tegumental architecture and activity of several enzymes associated with the tegumental interface of the parasite. Pursuing further investigation on the mode of action of this putative anthelmintic, the crude peel extract and pure genistein were further tested in respect of glycogen metabolism in the fowl tapeworm, Raillietina echinobothrida. On exposure to the plant root peel crude extract (5 mg/ml) and genistein (0.2 mg/ml), the glycogen concentration was found to decrease by 15-44%, accompanied by an increase of activity of the active form of glycogen phosphorylase (GPase a) by 29-39% and decrease of activity of the active form of glycogen synthase (GSase a) by 36-59% in treated parasites as compared to untreated controls, but without affecting the total activity (a+b) of both the enzymes. Praziquantel (1 microg/ml), the reference drug, also caused quantitative reduction in glycogen level and alterations in enzyme activities somewhat at par with the genistein treatment. These results suggest that this plant-derived component may influence the glycogen metabolism of the parasite by directing it towards utilization of glycogen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong 793 022, India. tandonveena@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Veena
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tandon
authors.forename: Bidyadhar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: Nirmalendu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Saha
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000923:Anticestodal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002589:Cestoda / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D019833:Genistein / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006003:Glycogen / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D024981:Glycogen Phosphorylase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D006006:Glycogen Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D011200:Poultry
chemical_list: D000923:Anticestodal Agents; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D010936:Plant Extracts; D006003:Glycogen; D019833:Genistein; D024981:Glycogen Phosphorylase; D006006:Glycogen Synthase