title: Improvement of the liver pathology by the aqueous extract and the n-butanol fraction of Sida pilosa Retz in Schistosoma mansoni-infected mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sida pilosa Retz (Malvaceae) is a plant used in Africa for the treatment of intestinal helminthiasis, lower abdominal pains and dysmenorrhea.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In order to determine the potential use of S. pilosa in the treatment of schistosomiasis mansoni, we evaluated the schistosomicidal, antioxidant and anti-fibrotic properties of the aqueous extract and the n-butanol fraction of its aerial parts.
  
  
  METHODS
  S. pilosa aqueous extract (SpAE) at 100, 200 and 400mg/kg and n-butanol fraction (SpBF) at 50, 100 and 200mg/kg were administered per os to Schistosoma mansoni-infected mice for 4 weeks. Praziquantel (100mg/kg × 5 days) was used as reference drug. After sacrifice, worm burden and egg count, transaminases and proteins levels were evaluated. Malondialdehyde (MDA), lipid hydroperoxydes (LOOH), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), eosinophil peroxidase (EPO) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were also measured. The anti-fibrotic effect of the plant was evaluated by the determination of hydroxyproline and γ-interferon (IFN-γ).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The treatment of S. mansoni-infected mice by SpAE or SpBF resulted in a moderate reduction of worm burden and egg load in the liver and intestine. Both SpAE and SpBF significantly reversed the increasing liver proteins, MDA, LOOH and CAT levels induced by the infection. Moreover, SOD activity was improved by SpAE and SpBF. Schistosomiasis mansoni considerably increased the EPO (p<0.001) and MPO activities (p<0.001). SpAE treatment significantly reduced EPO and MPO activities at all doses. SpBF failed to reduce the increasing MPO and decreased EPO only at the highest dose. S. mansoni-infection induced an increase in hydroxyproline content (p<0.001) and a decrease in IFN-γ level (p<0.001). Both SpAE and SpBF significantly reduced hepatic hydroxyproline content, while only SpAE (p<0.05) improved IFN-γ level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that the liver pathology in schistosomiasis mansoni is improved by S. pilosa aqueous extract, which disclosed a moderate schistosomicidal, but strong antioxidant and anti-fibrotic activities. The n-butanol fraction was however less active than the aqueous extract.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon; Laboratory of Immunopharmacology, Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 2267, Belo Horizonte, Brazil; Laboratory of Schistosomiasis, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 2267, Belo Horizonte, Brazil; Laboratory of Arterosclerosis and Nutritional Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 2267, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Electronic address: mjatsa@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Hermine Boukeng
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Jatsa
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunopharmacology, Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 2267, Belo Horizonte, Brazil; Laboratory of Pulmonary Immunology and Mechanics, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 2267, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Electronic address: russorc@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Remo Castro
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Schistosomiasis, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 2267, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Electronic address: monjoloci@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Cintia Aparecida de Jesus
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Arterosclerosis and Nutritional Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 2267, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Electronic address: edenilcostaaguilar@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Edenil Costa
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Aguilar
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunopharmacology, Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 2267, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Electronic address: criscoutog@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Cristiana Couto
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Schistosomiasis, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 2267, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Electronic address: emilhotas@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Emília Souza
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Schistosomiasis, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 2267, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Electronic address: jailzalima@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Jailza Lima Rodrigues
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Schistosomiasis, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 2267, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Electronic address: rfvannessa@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Vanessa Fernandes
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Schistosomiasis, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 2267, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Electronic address: vgo1990@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Vinícius Gustavo
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Arterosclerosis and Nutritional Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 2267, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Electronic address: jalvarezleite@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jacqueline Isaura
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Alvarez-Leite
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Phytochemistry, Department of Pharmaceutical Products, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 2267, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Electronic address: fernao@netuno.lcc.ufmg.br.
authors.forename: Fernão Castro
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Braga
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biology, Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon; Centre for Schistosomiasis and Parasitology, P.O. Box 7244, Yaoundé, Cameroon. Electronic address: tchuemtchuente@schisto.com.
authors.lastname: Louis-Albert Tchuem Tchuente
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon. Electronic address: pikam55@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kamtchouing
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Schistosomiasis, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 2267, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Electronic address: denegrao@icb.ufmg.br.
authors.forename: Deborah Aparecida
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Negrão-Corrêa
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunopharmacology, Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 2267, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Electronic address: mmtex@icb.ufmg.br.
authors.forename: Mauro Martins
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Teixeira
mesh_terms: D020001:1-Butanol / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D019660:Malvaceae; D051379:Mice; D008517:Phytotherapy; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000187:drug effects; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012997:Solvents; D014867:Water; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D020001:1-Butanol; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase
keywords: Anti-fibrotic; Antioxidants; Liver; Oxidative stress; Schistosoma mansoni; Sida pilosa