title: In vitro evaluation of schistosomicidal potential of curcumin against Schistosoma japonicum.
abstract: Curcumin is a polyphenol derived from the dietary spice turmeric. The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro effect of curcumin against eggs, cercariae, pre-adults, and adults of Schistosoma japonicum compared to praziquantel. After incubated by different concentration of curcumin or praziquantel in different time, the percent hatching rates of eggs, the percent dead rates of cercariae, and the number of dead worms were observed. Curcumin showed time- and dose-dependent schistosomicidal effects on every life stages of S. japonicum. In addition, curcumin exhibited an optimal activity against the adult stage with no differential sensitivity between male and female worms and decreased motor activity of these worms without tegumental alterations. The promising in vitro effects on all stages of S. japonicum warrants further evaluation for the prophylactic and therapeutic values in the early and late schistosomiasis in field trials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.
authors.forename: Yan-Qin
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Qiong-Ming
authors.initials: QM
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Xiao-Ran
authors.initials: XR
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Shi-Lin
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Hong-Xiang
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Zhu-Ge
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D058487:Cercaria / Q000187:drug effects; D003474:Curcumin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000494:pharmacology; D012549:Schistosoma japonicum / Q000187:drug effects*; D012554:Schistosomiasis japonica / Q000188:drug therapy; D012556:Schistosomicides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012908:Snails / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D012556:Schistosomicides; D011223:Praziquantel; D003474:Curcumin