Abstract
Berberis vulgaris (B. vulgaris) and Rhus coriaria (R. coriaria) have been documented to have various pharmacologic activities. The current study assessed the in vitro as well as in vivo inhibitory efficacy of a methanolic extract of B. vulgaris (MEBV) and an acetone extract of R. coriaria (AERC) on six species of piroplasm parasites. The drug-exposure viability assay was tested on three different cell lines, namely mouse embryonic fibroblast (NIH/3T3), Madin-Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) and human foreskin fibroblast (HFF) cells. Qualitative phytochemical estimation revealed that both extracts containing alkaloid, tannin, saponins and terpenoids and significant amounts of flavonoids and polyphenols. The GC-MS analysis of MEBV and AERC revealed the existence of 27 and 20 phytochemical compounds, respectively. MEBV and AERC restricted the multiplication of Babesia (B.) bovis, B. bigemina, B. divergens, B. caballi, and Theileria (T.) equi at the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 0.84 ± 0.2, 0.81 ± 0.3, 4.1 ± 0.9, 0.35 ± 0.1 and 0.68 ± 0.1 µg/mL and 85.7 ± 3.1, 60 ± 8.5, 90 ± 3.7, 85.7 ± 2.1 and 78 ± 2.1 µg/mL, respectively. In the cytotoxicity assay, MEBV and AERC inhibited MDBK, NIH/3T3 and HFF cells with half-maximal effective concentrations (EC50) of 695.7 ± 24.9, 931 ± 44.9, >1500 µg/mL and 737.7 ± 17.4, >1500 and >1500 µg/mL, respectively. The experiments in mice showed that MEBV and AERC prohibited B. microti multiplication at 150 mg/kg by 66.7% and 70%, respectively. These results indicate the prospects of these extracts as drug candidates for piroplasmosis treatment following additional studies in some clinical cases.
Highlights
Piroplasmosis is the exhausting ailment caused by hematotropic piroplasm parasites [1]
Preliminary examination of methanolic extract of B. vulgaris (MEBV) pointed to the existence of different phytoconstituents such as tannins, saponins, alkaloids, and terpenoids, while acetone extract of R. coriaria (AERC) contains saponins, alkaloids, and terpenoids that may be responsible for their pharmacological activities
Considerable amounts of polyphenols and flavonoid contents were observed in MEBV and AERC
Summary
Piroplasmosis is the exhausting ailment caused by hematotropic piroplasm parasites [1]. Numerous drugs have been used for the treatment of piroplasmosis infections [2,3]. Diminazene aceturate (DMA), oxytetracycline and imidocarb dipropionate, the treatment choices for bovine and equine piroplasmosis showed limited efficacy and there have been reported of unwanted symptoms and the emergence of resistant parasites [6]. Advances in piroplasmosis treatment is vital for improving disease treatment and tick control [7,8]. Several antipiroplasmic molecules and drug targets were identified, presenting an alternative choice for disease control [4,5,6,9,10,11]. The extensive socio-economic and welfare effects of bovine and equine piroplasmosis on animals and human babesiosis on humans have sustained the demand for pharmaceutical advancements to develop novel drug candidates
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