title: Antischistosomal activity of the terpene nerolidol.
abstract: Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease that affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Since the treatment of this disease currently relies on a single drug, praziquantel, new and safe schistosomicidal agents are urgently required. Nerolidol, a sesquiterpene present in the essential oils of several plants, is found in many foods and was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. In this study we analysed the in vitro antiparasitic effect of nerolidol on Schistosoma mansoni adult worms. Nerolidol at concentrations of 31.2 and 62.5 μM reduced the worm motor activity and caused the death of all male and female schistosomes, respectively. In addition, confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed morphological alterations on the tegument of worms such as disintegration, sloughing and erosion of the surface, and a correlation between viability and tegumental damage was observed. In conclusion, nerolidol may be a promising lead compound for the development of antischistosomal natural agents.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências de Guarulhos (FACIG/UNIESP), Av. Guarulhos, 1844, Guarulhos, SP 07025-000, Brazil. marcos.p.bio@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Marcos P N
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Piauí, Teresina, PI 64049-550, Brazil. georgenota10@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: George L S
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Piauí, Teresina, PI 64049-550, Brazil. rusbenebruno@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Rusbene B F
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: de Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, PB 58051-900, Brazil. damiao_desousa@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Damião P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: de Sousa
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Piauí, Teresina, PI 64049-550, Brazil. rusbenebruno@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Rivelilson M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Freitas
authors.affiliation: Enteroparasitas, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, São Paulo, SP 01246-902, Brazil. pedro.luiz44@terra.com.br.
authors.forename: Pedro L S
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências de Guarulhos (FACIG/UNIESP), Av. Guarulhos, 1844, Guarulhos, SP 07025-000, Brazil. josuem@usp.br.
authors.forename: Josué
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de Moraes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D021261:Parasitic Sensitivity Tests; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000187:drug effects; D012556:Schistosomicides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013729:Terpenes / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D012556:Schistosomicides; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D013729:Terpenes; C037055:nerolidol