title: Phytol, a diterpene alcohol from chlorophyll, as a drug against neglected tropical disease Schistosomiasis mansoni.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Schistosomiasis is a major endemic disease that affects hundreds of millions worldwide. Since the treatment and control of this parasitic disease rely on a single drug, praziquantel, it is imperative that new effective drugs are developed. Here, we report that phytol, a diterpene alcohol from chlorophyll widely used as a food additive and in medicinal fields, possesses promising antischistosomal properties in vitro and in a mouse model of schistosomiasis mansoni.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In vitro, phytol reduced the motor activity of worms, caused their death and confocal laser scanning microscopy analysis showed extensive tegumental alterations in a concentration-dependent manner (50 to 100 µg/mL). Additionally, phytol at sublethal doses (25 µg/mL) reduced the number of Schistosoma mansoni eggs. In vivo, a single dose of phytol (40 mg/kg) administered orally to mice infected with adult S. mansoni resulted in total and female worm burden reductions of 51.2% and 70.3%, respectively. Moreover, phytol reduced the number of eggs in faeces (76.6%) and the frequency of immature eggs (oogram pattern) was significantly reduced. The oogram also showed increases in the proportion of dead eggs. Confocal microcopy studies revealed tegumental damage in adult S. mansoni recovered from mice, especially in female worms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The significant reduction in parasite burden by this chlorophyll molecule validates phytol as a promising drug and offers the potential of a new direction for chemotherapy of human schistosomiasis. Phytol is a common food additive and nonmutagenic, with satisfactory safety. Thus, phytol has potential as a safe and cost-effective addition to antischistosomal therapy.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências de Guarulhos, FACIG, Guarulhos, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Josué
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de Moraes
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia Animal, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rosimeire N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Piauí, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jéssica P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Piauí, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil.
authors.forename: Antonio L G
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Junior
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiologia, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Damião P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: de Sousa
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Piauí, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil ; Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Piauí, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rivelilson M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Freitas
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia Animal, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Silmara M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Allegretti
authors.affiliation: Núcleo de Enteroparasitas, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Pedro L S
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Pinto
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D059208:Parasite Load; D021261:Parasitic Sensitivity Tests; D010836:Phytol / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000187:drug effects*; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D010836:Phytol