title: The relative anthelmintic efficacy of plant-derived cysteine proteinases on intestinal nematodes.
abstract: We examined the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of plant cysteine proteinases (CPs) derived from pineapple (Ananas comosus) and kiwi fruit (Actinidia deliciosa), and compared their efficacy as anthelmintics to the known effects of CPs from the latex of papaya (Carica papaya) against the rodent intestinal nematode, Heligmosomoides bakeri. Both fruit bromelain and stem bromelain had significant in vitro detrimental effects on H. bakeri but in comparison, actinidain from kiwi fruit had very little effect. However, in vivo trials indicated far less efficacy of stem bromelain and fruit bromelain than that expected from the in vitro experiments (24.5% and 22.4% reduction in worm burdens, respectively) against H. bakeri. Scanning electron microscopy revealed signs of cuticular damage on worms incubated in fruit bromelain, stem bromelain and actinidain, but this was far less extensive than on those incubated in papaya latex supernatant. We conclude that, on the basis of presently available data, CPs derived from pineapples and kiwi fruits are not suitable for development as novel anthelmintics for intestinal nematode infections.
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park,NottinghamNG7 2RD,UK.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Luoga
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park,NottinghamNG7 2RD,UK.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mansur
authors.affiliation: Department of Infection and Immunity,University of Sheffield Medical School,Beech Hill Road,SheffieldS10 2RX,UK.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Buttle
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park,NottinghamNG7 2RD,UK.
authors.forename: I R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Duce
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, University Park,NottinghamNG7 2RD,UK.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Garnett
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park,NottinghamNG7 2RD,UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lowe
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park,NottinghamNG7 2RD,UK.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Behnke
mesh_terms: D029042:Actinidia / Q000737:chemistry*; D031230:Ananas / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D029441:Carica / Q000737:chemistry*; D057056:Cysteine Proteases / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013321:Strongyloides / Q000187:drug effects; D013322:Strongyloidiasis / Q000469:parasitology*
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D010936:Plant Extracts; D057056:Cysteine Proteases