title: Ultrastructural study on the morphological changes to male worms of Schistosoma mansoni after in vitro exposure to allicin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Garlic has a wide range of actions, including antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antiprotozoal and anthelmintic actions. This antiparasitic activity has been attributed to allicin, which is the main constituent of garlic. The present study aimed to investigate the in vitro activity of allicin on the tegument of adult Schistosoma mansoni worms using scanning electron microscopy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Swiss Webster mice were infected with S. mansoni cercariae (100 per mouse) and sacrificed 50 days later to acquire the adult worms. These worms were collected by perfusion and placed in RPMI medium 1,640 at 37°C before transferring to RPMI media containing 0 (control), 5, 10, 15 and 20mg/mL of allicin, where they were incubated for 2h. The worms were fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde solution, washed twice, post-fixed in osmium tetroxide, washed twice and then dehydrated with ascending grades of ethanol. The samples were air-dried, mounted on stubs, gold coated in an ion sputtering unit and viewed using a scanning electron microscope.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A concentration of 5mg/mL caused wrinkling in the tegument; a concentration of 10mg/mL resulted in changes to tubercles and loss or modification of spines. With 15 and 20mg/mL increasing damage to the tegument could be seen, such as vesicle formation and the presence of ulcers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings demonstrate the effect of allicin on adult S. mansoni worms and indicate that most of the changes occur at concentrations greater than that normally indicated for treatment.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiologia e Patologia, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, PB, Brasil.
authors.forename: Caliandra Maria Bezerra Luna
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Francisca Inês de Sousa
authors.initials: FI
authors.lastname: Freitas
authors.forename: Liana Clébia Soares Lima de
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Morais
authors.forename: Marília Gabriela Dos Santos
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Cavalcanti
authors.forename: Lânia Ferreira da
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Rafael José Ribeiro
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Padilha
authors.forename: Constância Gayoso Simões
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.forename: Fábio André Brayner Dos
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Luiz Carlos
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: Margareth de Fátima Formiga Melo
authors.initials: Mde F
authors.lastname: Diniz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004220:Disulfides; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013441:Sulfinic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000977:Antiparasitic Agents; D004220:Disulfides; D013441:Sulfinic Acids; C006452:allicin