title: Ethanolic extract of Azadirachta indica (A. Juss.) causing apoptosis by ROS upregulation in Dirofilaria immitis microfilaria.
abstract: Dirofilaria immitis is the causative agent of cardiopulmonary dirofilariasis in the Canine family. The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of the ethanolic extract of Azadirachta indica leaves (EEA) against the microfilaria (mf) of D. immitis in vitro. EEA was evaluated for different compound classes through HPTLC. Relative motility, mortality and morphological alterations were observed in the mf after exposure to EEA. The effect of EEA on redox status in the treated mf was evaluated by some key enzymatic and non-enzymatic parameters. An enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) level in the treated mf along with altered redox status was evident. DNA fragmentation and terminal-deoxynucleotidyl-transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) confirmed apoptosis. In addition, western blotting revealed down-regulation of anti-apoptotic protein and up-regulation of pro-apoptotic proteins. Taken together, the microfilaricidal activity of EEA can be attributed to its capacity to inflict oxidative stress culminating in apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Parasitology Laboratory, Department of Zoology (Centre for Advanced Studies), Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, West Bengal 731 235, India.
authors.forename: Niladri
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mukherjee
authors.affiliation: Parasitology Laboratory, Department of Zoology (Centre for Advanced Studies), Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, West Bengal 731 235, India.
authors.forename: Prasanta
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Saini
authors.affiliation: Parasitology Laboratory, Department of Zoology (Centre for Advanced Studies), Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, West Bengal 731 235, India.
authors.forename: Suprabhat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mukherjee
authors.affiliation: Parasitology Laboratory, Department of Zoology (Centre for Advanced Studies), Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, West Bengal 731 235, India.
authors.forename: Priya
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.affiliation: Parasitology Laboratory, Department of Zoology (Centre for Advanced Studies), Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, West Bengal 731 235, India.
authors.forename: Prajna
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gayen
authors.affiliation: Parasitology Laboratory, Department of Zoology (Centre for Advanced Studies), Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, West Bengal 731 235, India. Electronic address: spsinhababu@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Santi P Sinha
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Babu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D031601:Azadirachta; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D018509:DNA, Helminth / Q000187:drug effects; D004183:Dirofilaria immitis / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D004184:Dirofilariasis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D000431:Ethanol; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008842:Microfilariae / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D018509:DNA, Helminth; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D000431:Ethanol
keywords: Apoptosis; Azadirachta indica; Dirofilaria immitis; Reactive oxygen species (ROS); in vitro