[Effect of Pulsatilla chinensis (Bunge) Regel saponins against juvenile and adult Schistosoma japonicum in vitro].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the effect of Pulsatilla chinensis (Bunge) Regel saponins (PRS) against juvenile and adult Schistosoma japonicum and to compare its efficacy with praziquantel (PZQ) in vitro.


METHODS
3 h, 7 d, 14 d schistosomula and 42 d adult schistosomes were incubated with 0, 1, 5, 10, 20 and 30 microg/ml PRS for 4, 24, 48 and 72 hours, then the states of them were observed. The changes of the surface of S. japonicum incubated with 30 microg/ml PRS and PZQ within 4 hours were observed by a scanning electron microscope.


RESULTS
The sensitivity of 3 h, 7 d, 14 d schistosomula and adults of S. japonicum to 1, 5, 10, 20, 30 microg/ml PRS displayed a time and dose dependence. All the worms died in 30 microg/ml PRS after 4 hours. The dead worm body appeared a gray-white color accompanied with their altered morphogenesis and opaque body. The tegumental surface of adults with different degrees of damages was observed by the electron microscope within 4 hours affected by PRS in vitro.


CONCLUSIONS
The effects of PRS against S. japonicum in different developmental stages in vitro show that PRS may eventually have a therapeutic potential in the treatment or prevention of S. japonicum infection and is expected to become a new anti-schistosome drug.
College of Medicine, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.
Yan-Qin
YQ
Chen
Nanyany Medical College, China.
Qing-Yuan
QY
Zhang
College of Medicine, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.
Xiao-Ran
XR
Li
College of Medicine, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.
Hong-Xiang
HX
Zhuge
College of Medicine, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.
Shi-Lin
SL
Yang
College of Medicine, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.
Qiong-Ming
QM
Xu
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000494:pharmacology; D031946:Pulsatilla / Q000737:chemistry*; D012503:Saponins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012549:Schistosoma japonicum / Q000187:drug effects*
D000871:Anthelmintics; D012503:Saponins; D011223:Praziquantel