title: Antihelmintic effects of nutmeg (Myristica fragans) on Anisakis simplex L3 larvae obtained from Micromesistius potassou.
abstract: Anisakis simplex is a foodborne pathogen that can produce human infections and allergic reactions due to the high consumption of raw fish. The seeds of Myristica fragans (Myristicaceae), popularly known as nutmeg, are worldwide used as a culinary spice due to its flavour and properties in food preservation. A nutmeg extract was prepared, analyzed, screened for cytotoxicity and tested against Anisakis simplex L3 larvae. In order to detect the biologically active constituents of the extract, myristicin was tested on the larvae. An acetylcholinesterase inhibition bioassay was also carried out to investigate the antihelmintic mechanism of action. Our results demonstrate that nutmeg exerts antihelmintic effects on Anisakis simplex, being myristicin one of the active compounds. The extract induced a high rate of dead anisakis at concentrations between 0.5 and 0.7 mg/ml without being considered cytotoxic; however, an inhibition of acetylcholinesterase was discarded as the molecular mechanism involved in the activity.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad San Jorge, Autovía A-23 Zaragoza-Huesca km. 299, Villanueva de Gállego (Zaragoza), Spain. Electronic address: ilopez@usj.es.
authors.forename: Víctor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: López
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad San Jorge, Autovía A-23 Zaragoza-Huesca km. 299, Villanueva de Gállego (Zaragoza), Spain.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gerique
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad San Jorge, Autovía A-23 Zaragoza-Huesca km. 299, Villanueva de Gállego (Zaragoza), Spain.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Langa
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad San Jorge, Autovía A-23 Zaragoza-Huesca km. 299, Villanueva de Gállego (Zaragoza), Spain.
authors.forename: César
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Berzosa
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad San Jorge, Autovía A-23 Zaragoza-Huesca km. 299, Villanueva de Gállego (Zaragoza), Spain.
authors.forename: Marta Sofía
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Valero
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad San Jorge, Autovía A-23 Zaragoza-Huesca km. 299, Villanueva de Gállego (Zaragoza), Spain.
authors.forename: Carlota
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gómez-Rincón
mesh_terms: D000081248:Allylbenzene Derivatives; D000818:Animals; D017163:Anisakis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development; D000969:Antinematodal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001593:Benzyl Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004148:Dioxolanes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D048388:Gadiformes / Q000469:parasitology; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development; D026323:Myristica / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000032:analysis; D011748:Pyrogallol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000081248:Allylbenzene Derivatives; D000969:Antinematodal Agents; D001593:Benzyl Compounds; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D004148:Dioxolanes; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011748:Pyrogallol; C005246:myristicin
keywords: Anisakis simplex; Antihelmintic activity; Myristica fragans; Myristicin; Natural products; Nutmeg