Abstract
Allium cepa L. (red onion) is one of the most famous vegetable crops grown in Egypt due to its medical and nutritional importance. In vitro antischistosomal bioassay of ethyl acetate (EtOAc) and butanolic (BuOH) fractions derived from methanolic (MeOH) extract of A. cepa as well as the essential oil of plant bulbs was carried out using ascending doses. The chemical constituents of essential oil were further investigated using GC-MS analysis. The results revealed that the MeOH extract, EtOAc fraction, BuOH fraction and essential oil have a significant effect on adult Schistosoma mansoni worms. The essential oil of A. cepa gave high worm mortality (%) at the concentration 500 µg/mL (75%), 250 µg/mL (50%) and 125 µg/mL (30%) death rate after 24 hours. GC-MS analysis of A. cepa essential oil exhibited different chemical volatile constituents such as organosulfur compounds, alcohols, acids, esters, furans, phenols, and aldehyde. 3, 5-Diethyl -1, 2, 4-trithiolane (10.17%), 1, 3, 5-trithiolane (7.80%), and 3-(2H-furanone, 2-hexyl-5-methyl) (7.74%) represented the highest contents percent in essential oil of A. cepa bulbs. In conclusion, the bulbs of A. cepa exhibited antischistosomal activities and contain a variety of bioactive chemical constituents and can be considered as a natural antischistosomal agent.
Highlights
Schistosomiasis or bilharzia is one of the most widespread parasitic diseases in the world that has been neglected by governments (Mafud et al, 2016).Schistosomiasis is a tropical disease spread in more poverty and poor living conditions areas (WHO, 2010)
BuOH fraction derived from MeOH extract showed more potent antischistosomal activity (25 % - 50 %) and the highest shrinking rate
The use of PZQ is considered as a drug of choice for treatment of schistosomiasis, there are significant limitations associated with its use
Summary
Schistosomiasis or bilharzia is one of the most widespread parasitic diseases in the world that has been neglected by governments (Mafud et al, 2016). Schistosomiasis is a tropical disease spread in more poverty and poor living conditions areas (WHO, 2010). Estimated that in the year 2015; approximately 240 million peoples around the world were infected and the mortality rate of people is 280000 annually (Stein et al, 2015).Praziquantel (PZQ) is considered the drug of choice for schistosomiasis treatment (Hotez, 2009, Mantovani et al, 2013). The scientific community are contineously searching for some alternative drugs by screening botanical and chemical compounds for their potential activity as antischistosomal agents. Many reports exhibited that the medicinal plants are seems to be the new sources of antischistosomal drugs (Aline et al, 2013)
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