title: Evidence of apoptosis in Raillietina echinobothrida induced by methanolic extracts of three traditional medicinal plants of Northeast India.
abstract: The therapeutic benefits of medicinal plants in terms of anthelmintic properties are known since time immemorial in India, particularly among natives of the Northeast India. However, only sporadic and scarce reports on scientific validation of these plants are available. The present study was conducted on the cestode Raillietina echinobothrida, to establish whether the anthelmintic activity of Potentilla fulgens, Alpinia nigra and Millettia pachycarpa was mediated by apoptosis or not. Light microscopic observation following MTT assay revealed the highest percentage of inhibition of viability among the worms by methanol extract of M. pachycarpa (89.33%), followed by A. nigra (65%) and P. fulgens (37%). Ultrastructural observations revealed swelling of mitochondria, disruption of mitochondrial membrane, vacuolization of mitochondria, appearance of apoptotic bodies in the cytoplasm, disintegration of nuclear membrane and nucleolus were very common throughout the tegument. DAPI stained specimens showed typical morphology of apoptosis, like nuclear condensation and fragmentation in the extracts treated parasites. A decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential was also recorded in the treated groups. Confirmatory TUNEL assay and DNA fragmentation assay of the extracts treated parasites also confirmed the apoptotic nature of cell death and is concluded to be responsible for paralysis and death of the parasite.
authors.affiliation: Parasitology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong 793 022, India.
authors.forename: Bikash Ranjan
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Giri
authors.forename: Bishnupada
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.forename: Santi Prasad
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Sinha Babu
mesh_terms: D032429:Alpinia / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis; D002589:Cestoda / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002843:Chromatin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D007194:India; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D033641:Millettia / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D031987:Potentilla / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D002843:Chromatin; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Anthelmintics; Apoptosis; DNA fragmentation; Phytomedicine; Raillietina echinobothrida; Ultrastructure