title: Immunomodulatory effect of the alkaloidic extract of Solanum lycocarpum fruits in mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni.
abstract: Schistosomiasis is a chronic disease caused by trematode flatworms of the genus Schistosoma; it accounts for more than 280,000 deaths annually. In this work we investigated the effect of the alkaloidic extract obtained by acid-base extraction of the dried fruits of Solanum lycocarpum on schistosomiasis. We used this extract at concentrations of 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg to treat mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni in different phases of the parasite cycle, and we compared its effect with that of the positive control praziquantel (60 mg/kg). We evaluated the results on the basis of the number of macrophages, eggs, and granulomas; we also assessed nitric oxide (NO) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) production. Animals treated with a daily dose of 10 or 20 mg/kg alkaloidic extract between the 37th and 41st day of infection showed increased number of macrophages, elevated NO and IFN-γ concentrations, and reduced number of eggs and granulomas in the liver. The alkaloidic extract of S. lycocarpum fruits displayed an immunomodulatory effect on mice infected with S. mansoni, so its potential to treat schistosomiasis deserves further studies.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida do Café s/n, CEP 14040-903 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mariza Abreu
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Miranda
authors.forename: Christian Collins
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Kuehn
authors.forename: João Felipe Rito
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.forename: Luiz Gustavo Rodrigues
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Lizandra Guidi
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Magalhães
authors.forename: Renata Fabiane Jorge
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Tiossi
authors.forename: Vanderlei
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Sérgio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zucolloto
authors.forename: José Clóvis
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Prado
authors.forename: James Dewey
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: McChesney
authors.forename: Jairo Kenupp
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Bastos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002452:Cell Count; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D012991:Solanaceous Alkaloids / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D032322:Solanum / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012991:Solanaceous Alkaloids; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D011223:Praziquantel; D007371:Interferon-gamma