Abstract
The infection caused by Trichomonas vaginalis is the most common but overlooked non-viral sexually transmitted disease worldwide. Treatment relies on one class of drugs, the 5-nitroimidazoles, but resistance is widespread. New drugs are urgently needed. We reported the effect of crude and purified saponin fractions of Manilkara rufula against Trichomonas vaginalis. The compound responsible for antitrichomonal activity was isolated and identified as an uncommon bidesmosic saponin, Mi-saponin C. This saponin eliminated parasite viability without toxicity against the human vaginal epithelial line (HMVII). In addition, the isolated saponin fraction improved the metronidazole effect against a metronidazole-resistant isolate and dramatically reduced the cytoadherence of T. vaginalis to human cells. Investigation of the mechanism of death showed that the saponin fraction induced the parasite death due to profound membrane damage, inducing a disturbance of intracellular content without nuclear damage. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of antitrichomonal activity in the bidesmosic saponins of Manilkara rufula.
Highlights
Trichomonas vaginalis is a parasitic protozoan that occurs in the urogenital tract and is the causative agent of trichomoniasis, which is the most widespread non-viral sexually transmitted disease (STD) in humans
A potent in vitro effect of M. rufula against the parasite T. vaginalis was demonstrated with an MIC of the H100 saponin fraction of 0.5 mg/mL (Fig 1A)
The MIC was determined by trophozoite counting under microscopic observation with exclusion dye, which is a laborious method
Summary
Trichomonas vaginalis is a parasitic protozoan that occurs in the urogenital tract and is the causative agent of trichomoniasis, which is the most widespread non-viral sexually transmitted disease (STD) in humans. Crude and purified saponin fractions of M. rufula were tested against T. vaginalis, and the mechanism of death was investigated.
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