title: Anthelmintic Effect of Biocompatible Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) on Gigantocotyle explanatum, a Neglected Parasite of Indian Water Buffalo.
abstract: Helminth parasites of veterinary importance cause huge revenue losses to agrarian economy worldwide. With the emergence of drug resistance against the current formulations, there is a need to focus on the alternative approaches in order to control this menace. In the present study, biocompatible zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) were used to see their in vitro effect on the biliary amphistomes, Gigantocotyle explanatum, infecting Bubalus bubalis because these nanoparticles are involved in generation of free radicals that induce oxidative stress, resulting in disruption of cellular machinery. The ZnO NPs were synthesized by using egg albumin as a biotemplate and subsequently characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), X-ray Diffraction and Spectrophotometrical, which showed that ZnO NPs were highly purified wurtzite type polycrystals, with a mean size of 16.7 nm. When the parasites were treated with lower concentrations (0.004% and 0.008%) of the ZnO NPs, the worms mounted a protective response by stimulating the antioxidant system but the treatment of G. explanatum with 0.012% ZnO NPs produced significant inhibition of the antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD) (p< 0.05) and glutathione S- transferase (GST) (p<0.01), while the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), a lipid peroxidation marker, was significantly (p< 0.01) elevated. SEM and histopathology revealed pronounced tegumental damage showing the disruption of surface papillae and the annulations, particularly in the posterior region near acetabulum. The under expression of a number of polypeptides, loss of worm motility in a time dependent manner, further reflect strong anthelmintic potential of ZnO NPs. It can be concluded that the anthelmintic effect might be due to the production of reactive oxygen species that target a variety of macromolecules such as nucleic acid, protein and lipids which are involved in different cellular processes.
authors.affiliation: Section of Parasitology, Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002, India.
authors.forename: Yasir Akhtar
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Centre of Excellence in Material Science (Nanomaterial), Department of Applied Physics, ZHCET, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002, India.
authors.forename: Braj Raj
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Section of Parasitology, Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002, India.
authors.forename: Rizwan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ullah
authors.affiliation: Centre of Excellence in Material Science (Nanomaterial), Department of Applied Physics, ZHCET, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002, India.
authors.forename: Mohd
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shoeb
authors.affiliation: Centre of Excellence in Material Science (Nanomaterial), Department of Applied Physics, ZHCET, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002, India.
authors.forename: Alim H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Naqvi
authors.affiliation: Section of Parasitology, Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002, India.
authors.forename: Syed M A
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Abidi
mesh_terms: D000418:Albumins / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002020:Buffaloes / Q000469:parasitology; D003470:Culture Media; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000819:agonists / Q000378:metabolism; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010316:Particle Size; D010986:Platyhelminths / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000819:agonists* / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D014201:Trematode Infections / Q000469:parasitology; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000418:Albumins; D000871:Anthelmintics; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003470:Culture Media; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D015034:Zinc Oxide