Antischistosomal and antioxidant protective role of Carica papaya fruit extracts against Schistosoma mansoni

Abstract

Schistosomiasis is a major disease of public health in human. Patterns on immune response, worm recovery, in vitro antischistosomal bioassay screening (cercaricidal killing in vitro of Schistosoma mansoni was observed). In vivo Mice were infected by injection of 100 S. mansoni cercariae/mouse and treated by oral administration with crude extract, MeOH, ethyl acetate (EtOAc) and butanol (BuOH) Carica papaya fruits (4g/kg) start from 7th day p.i. to the end of experiment and a treatment control of 500 mg/kg of Praziquantel. Various concentrations of plant extracts were used in cercaricidal assay. Both crude extract and EtOAc showed significant dose-dependent percentage worm load reduction (P<0.001). Carica papaya, showed highly reduction in worm counts (60.3% and 68.2%) while Praziquantel (92.8%), elevated immune responses and least time in destroying cercariae. The highest significant reduction in dead ova (P<0.001) was observed in group treated with EtOAc extract. The level of IgG1 and IgG2 was significantly reduced (P<0.001) than in groups treated with C. papaya crude extract, EtOAc extract or PZQ as compared to levels in untreated infected mice. While the level of IgG1 and IgG2 was insignificantly reduced in groups treated with MeOH extract or BuOH extract as compared to levels in untreated infected mice. It was concluded from the results that the antischistosomal efficacy of the extracts was dependent being more potent in reducing both the worm burden and tissue egg load. The antishistosomal effect of C. papaya extracts was significantly higher in group treated with EtOAc extract. These findings supporting the potential use of C. papaya extracts in the management of schistosomiasis.