Anti-helminthic activity of Momordica charantia L. against Fasciola hepatica eggs after twelve days of incubation in vitro.
Fasciolosis, a parasitic disease caused by the trematode Fasciola hepatica underreported is expanding both in human and animal population, throughout the world. The constant use of synthetic drugs to treat this condition has led to the natural selection of resistant strains of the parasite. Hence, there is a growing focus on the potential anti-helminthic properties of medicinal plants and phytopharmaceuticals. The current study assessed the potential anti-fasciolicide action of Momordica charantia leaf extracts and fractions on the eggs of F. hepatica parasites. The lyophilized crude extract (CE) of M. charantia leaves and its sub-fractions, obtained from liquid-liquid partitioning with organic solvents, were analysed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), suspended in 1% DMSO and used in in vitro tests. Quadruplicates of 50F. hepatica eggs were incubated at 23°C with M. charantia leaf CE in different concentrations. After 12days no larvae were formed in eggs incubated with CE concentrations above 12.5mg/mL. Eggs incubated with CE sub-fractions at concentrations of 1000, 100, 10, 1, 0.1, 0.01μg/mL affected embryonic development, with n-butanol presenting the strongest inhibition of miracidia formation. In contrast, on the 12th day, 90% of the miracidia hatched in the control experiments using 0.03% DMSO whereas embryogenesis was completely abolished with any concentration of albendazole sulphoxide ABZ(SO). Chemical analysis of the CE and sub-fractions revealed a prominent presence of flavonoids. HPLC-MS confirmed Quercetin to be one of the main flavonoids present in the CE and the n-butanol subfraction. This is the first study to analyse the potential anti-fasciolicide action of M. charantia leaf CE and subfractions.
Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas, Gerais, Brazil. Electronic address: monjoloci@yahoo.com.br.
Cíntia A J
CAJ
Pereira
Departamento de Produtos Farmacêuticos, Faculdade de Fármacia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil; Departamento de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, Brazil.
Laura L S
LLS
Oliveira
Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas, Gerais, Brazil.
Aytube L
AL
Coaglio
Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas, Gerais, Brazil.
Fernanda S O
FSO
Santos
Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas, Gerais, Brazil.
Rodolfo S M
RSM
Cezar
Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas, Gerais, Brazil.
Tiago
T
Mendes
Department of Statistics, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil.
Fernando L P
FLP
Oliveira
Departamento de Produtos Farmacêuticos, Faculdade de Fármacia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Gustavo
G
Conzensa
Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas, Gerais, Brazil.
Walter S
WS
Lima
D015766:Albendazole / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000662:veterinary; D005210:Fasciola hepatica / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology; D005211:Fascioliasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D029777:Momordica charantia / Q000737:chemistry*; D010063:Ovum / Q000187:drug effects; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011794:Quercetin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology
D000871:Anthelmintics; D005419:Flavonoids; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011794:Quercetin; D015766:Albendazole; C027186:albendazole sulfoxide
Anti-ovicidal activity; Fasciola hepatica; Flavonoid; Momordica charantia L.; Quercetin