Abstract
The crude latex of "Crown-of-Thorns" (Euphorbia milii var hislopii, syn E.splendens) is a potent plant molluscicide. For this reason, toxicological studies have been performed to evaluate the health risks posed by its use in schistosomiasis control programs. The present study is part of a more comprehensive immunotoxicological evaluation of this molluscicide. Here, we investigated the effects of E. milii latex on the proliferation of human lymphocytes in vitro. Lyophilized latex of E. milii (0, 0.5, 5, 25 and 50 µg/ml) was incubated with whole blood in the presence of proliferation stimulators, i.e. lectins (phytohemagglutinin, concanavalin A and pokeweed mitogen), as well as with human monoclonal antibody against CD3 and tetanus toxoid. Cell proliferation was measured by ³H-thymidine incorporation, and the effects of latex on mitogen-induced cell proliferation were compared to the effects of 10 ng/ml of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). Results showed that mitogen-induced cell proliferation was markedly enhanced by E. milii latex. This synergistic effect of latex on mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation may be due to the presence of TPA-like phorbol esters and/or to mitogenic plant lectins.
Highlights
Schistosomiasis is a major public health problem in Brazil as well as in several African and Asian countries
The effects of E. milii latex on mitogeninduced stimulation of DNA synthesis in human lymphocytes are shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2
The data reported in this paper suggest that the crude latex of E. milii contains substances able to enhance lymphocyte proliferation in vitro
Summary
Schistosomiasis is a major public health problem in Brazil as well as in several African and Asian countries. It has been estimated that 200 million people are infected with Schistosomatrematodes all over the world and that 600 million people are at risk in endemic areas (WHO, 1993; Gryseels et al, 2006). Since the intermediate hosts of Schistosomatrematodes are freshwater mollusks, snail control by mollusciciding has been one of the methods of choice for the control of transmission of this parasitic disease (WHO, 1993). More selective and cheaper molluscicides, hundreds of botanical species have been screened for molluscicidal activity in recent years. Within this context, the latex of “Crown-of-Thorns”
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