Anthelmintic Activity Research Articles

The Anthelmintic Activity of Praziquantel Analogs Correlates with Structure-Activity Relationships at TRPMPZQ Orthologs.

The anthelmintic drug praziquantel remains a key clinical therapy for treating various diseases caused by parasitic flatworms. The parasite target of praziquantel has remained undefined despite longstanding usage in the clinic, although a candidate ion channel target, named TRPMPZQ, has recently been identified. Intriguingly, certain praziquantel derivatives show different activities against different parasites: for example, some praziquantel analogs are considerably more active against cestodes than against schistosomes. Here we interrogate whether the different activities of praziquantel analogs against different parasites are also reflected by unique structure-activity relationships at the TRPMPZQ channels found in these different organisms. To do this, several praziquantel analogs were synthesized and functionally profiled against schistosome and cestode TRPMPZQ channels. Data demonstrate that structure-activity relationships are closely mirrored between parasites and their TRPMPZQ orthologs, providing further support for TRPMPZQ as the therapeutically relevant target of praziquantel.

Anthelmintic efficacy of febantel against a monogenean parasite, Gyrodactylus kobayashii

Monogenean parasites pose a significant challenge to aquaculture, leading to adverse effects on fish health and yields. Current anthelmintic treatments for monogeneans have demonstrated limited efficacy and are further complicated by potential issues, which emphasize the necessity for effective and safe therapeutic strategies to manage monogeneans in aquaculture. In this study, in vivo and in vitro anthelmintic activity of febantel against Gyrodactylus kobayashii on goldfish (Carassius auratus), as well as its toxicity to goldfish were evaluated. In vivo assays indicated that febantel exhibited potent anthelmintic activity against G. kobayashii with an EC50 value of 0.03 mg/L and 100 % anthelmintic efficacy at 0.1 mg/L after 48 h of exposure. Moreover, in vivo trials also revealed a notable post-treatment effect of febantel, where infected goldfish transferred to drug-free water after short 6-h exposure could still result in full eradication of the worms, indicating febantel might induce persistent perturbations in parasite physiology. In vitro assays showed a negative correlation between febantel concentrations and the survival of G. kobayashii. However, increasing the febantel concentration to 2.0 mg/L did not result in the complete death of all worms. Oral administration of febantel demonstrated limited anthelmintic activity, with only 49 % efficacy at a dosage of 200 mg/kg body weight daily over five days. Acute toxicity assays revealed the 48-h LC50 value of febantel was 5.47 mg/L, which was 182.23 times higher than the 48-h EC50 value, indicating that febantel has a favorable safety profile. However, febantel exposure potentially interfered with hepatic metabolism and oxidative status, as indicated by variations in SOD, GST, and P450 gene expression. In conclusion, treatment with 0.1 mg/L febantel for 24 h completely eradicated G. kobayashii infection on goldfish, demonstrating febantel’s potent anthelmintic activity. Coupled with its safety profile and extended post-treatment effectiveness, febantel is a promising candidate for controlling Gyrodactylus infections in aquaculture.

In-vitro Anthelmintic Potential of Leaf Extracts of Amaranthus tricolor Linn.

The present study was designed to investigate the anthelmintic potential of Amaranthus tricolor Linn plant of the Amaranthaceae family using acetone, ethyl acetate and ethanol as solvents. The extracts were screened for phytochemical constituents and evaluated for their vermicidal activity against adult Eisenia fetida earthworms. All the extracts contained phytochemicals, but comparatively. The acetone extract showed the presence of most of the phytochemicals, while ethanol extract contained fewer phytochemicals. Various concentrations (10–30 mg/mL) of each extract were studied in the bioassay, observing the time of paralysis and death of the earthworms. Albendazole was used as reference standard and normal saline as a control group. All extracts exhibited dose-dependent anthelmintic activity in both the parameters (paralysis and death) and were showing more potency than the standard drug. The acetone extract (30 mg/mL) exhibited the most promising activity, causing paralysis within 5 minutes and death of worms within 13 minutes. The result suggests that the acetone extract of A. tricolor Linn plant may be useful as an anthelmintic. In the present study, the traditional use of this leafy vegetable as vermicides was proved scientifically and suggests that A. tricolor Linn plant leaves are valuable source of active compounds possessing anthelmintic activity. The preliminary phytochemical evaluation suggests the strong presence of glycosidic and phenolic substances in acetone extract may be responsible for its exceptional vermicidal activity. A further investigation is sought to isolate and develop novel anthelmintic drug present in the plant. The data were verified as statistically significant using one-way ANOVA at 5 % significance level (p < 0.05, n = 3).

Antioxidant, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitory and anthelmintic activities of bark essential oil of Cinnamomum bejolghota (Buch.-Ham.) Sweet from North East India

Cinnamomum bejolghota (Buch.-Ham.) Sweetisa traditional anthelmintic and cardiotonic medicinal plant. The essential oil extracted from the bark of C. bejolghota was characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and 28 constituents were identified. Monoterpenoids were found to be dominating chemical constituents with α-terpineol (18.57 %) as the major component of the essential oil. The antioxidant activity of the essential oil was evaluated by DPPH radical, β-carotene bleaching and reducing power assay methods. The essential oil showed in-vitro dose-response hindering activity against angiotensin-converting enzyme with an IC50 value of 33.43 ± 0.46 µg/mL.The essential oil also exhibited potent anthelmintic property in-vitro against Caenorhabditis elegans with an ED50value of 80.53 ± 3.57 µg/mLin adult mortality assay. The inhibitory activity of essential oil against larval development assay showed an ED50value of 72.40 ± 2.68 µg/mL against C. elegans larva. Further, the egg hatching assay using C. eleganseggs demonstrated an ED50 value of 68.27 ± 3.51 µg/mL with this essential oil. Thus, the ethnomedicinal claim has been validated for the bark essential oil, which provides an excellent scope for the development of the C. bejolghota bark essential oil as novel herbal antihypertensive and anthelmintic agents.

Qualitative Tests for Preliminary Phytochemical Screening and Antihelmintic Activity of Root Extract of Crossandra infundibuliformis

Crossandra infundibuliformis is native to South India and Srilanka. It is a traditional plant having beneficial activities with fewer side effects. The promising effects of the plant includes Anticancer, Antibacterial, Antifungal, Antihelmintic, insecticidal, wound healing properties etc. The active constituents of the plant are alkaloids, flavonoids, phytosterols, and phenolic compounds. In the present study, the root extract was evaluated for antihelmintic activity and the plant showed promising effect at 200mg/kg. Initial phytochemical screening was also done in ethanol, chloroform and acetone extracts. The major constituents in all the three extracts are alkaloids, flavonoids and tannins.

Evaluation of hydroalcoholic extract of Vitex negundo leaves for its anthelmintic activity on Tubifex tubifex

Background: The purpose of this study was to screen the anthelmintic property of a hydroalcoholic extract of Vitex negundo leaves. It is widely used for the treatment of anti-inflammatory, enzyme inhibitory, oxidative stress, cytotoxic impact in the ayurvedic medicine system as well as it is also used as a folk medicine in joint pain. The other parts of this plant are scientifically proven for its anthelmintic activity. The most important activities like glucose uptake, enzyme inhibitory activity, auxin transportation etc. have already been proven but still there is no scientific data available on anthelmintic activity of Vitex negundo leaves.
 Methods: The hydroalcoholic extract of Vitex negundo leaves was obtained by maceration process and various phytochemical tests were performed. Limit test, main test and comparative test were performed to investigate the anthelmintic activity.
 Results: The paralysis and death time of the Tubifex tubifex worms was noted and the minimum concentration of dose responsible for death of all the test worms within 4 hours was calculated. Albendazole suspension was used as standard drug. The data shows statistically significant by using one-way ANNOVA, Dunnett's post-parametric test between test group and standard group data (P<0.01).
 Conclusion: Therefore, the hydroalcoholic extract of Vitex negundo leaves has the potential to be used as a natural anthelmintic agent.
 Keywords: Vitex negundo, hydroalcoholic extract, anthelmintic activity, Tubifex tubifex, paralysis time, death time, Albendazole.

Assessment of the phytochemicals and anthelminthic activities of Adiantum raddianum and Kibatalia arborea extracts

Background: A limited spectrum and inappropriate use of anthelmintics lead to anthelmintic resistance. Among Indonesian medicinal plants, Adiantum raddianum (Suplir) and Kibatalia arborea (Jelutong Pipit) have shown antihelmintic properties. Objective: To reveal the anthelmintic activity as preliminary screening of A. raddianum and K. arborea leaves. Method: This study used the antihelmintic microdilution test towards methanol extracts at 500 µg/mL. The mortality of Caenorhabditis elegans expresses the presence of anthelmintic activity. Phytochemical screening was determined using thin-layer chromatography. Result: The methanol extracts of both extracts had anthelmintic activity with mortality values of 14.941% and 15.134%, respectively. Both extracts contain polyphenols, flavonoids, terpenoids, and alkaloids found only in K. arborea. Conclusion: This study reveals that the methanol extract of A. raddianum and K. arborea leaves have anthelmintic activity, which could be related to the findings of phytochemical constituents.

Phytochemical screening, in vitro and in vivo effects of an aqueous extract of the bark of Combretum glutinosum Perr ex DC. (Combretaceae) on gastrointestinal strongyles

IntroductionPlants remain an inexhaustible source of medicines for the treatment of various diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anthelmintic activity of the aqueous extract of Combretum glutinosum bark on adult gastrointestinal strongyle worms. MethodsIn vitro, the extract was contacted with worms at various doses. In vivo, 25 sheep were divided into five batches of 5 animals, with one batch untreated, one batch treated with albendazole and three batches treated with the extract at three different doses. The body weight of the animals, the number of eggs per gram of faeces and haematological parameters were used to assess the efficacy of the extract. ResultsIn vitro, the extract appeared to inhibit the motility of adult Haemonchus contortus worms more than Trichostrongylus colubriformis (P < 0.05). In vivo, a significant reduction in the faecal excretion rate was observed in batches of animals treated with the drug and those treated with the extract, compared with the untreated control. Similarly, an increase in animal weight and an improvement in haematological parameters were observed in the treated batches after experimentation. The chemical profile of the extract revealed the presence of various chemical groups suspected of being responsible for its anthelmintic properties. ConclusionTreatment at a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight appeared to be more active in reducing the number of eggs per gram of faeces and could therefore be recommended for the formulation of an improved traditional medicines with anthelmintic properties.

Eficácia do extrato das folhas de Teucrium polium como anticoccidiano e anti-helmíntico: Estudo in vitro

ABSTRACT Natural sources are microbiological species and medicinal plants, which could be potential new sources for development of drugs against different diseases. Coccidiosis affects many animals and leads to great economic losses. Drug-resistant strains of Eimeria species have emerged because of overuse and misuse of drugs. In vitro, using Eimeria papillata oocyst and earthworm (Eisenia fetida), we evaluated the anticoccidial and anthelmintic effect of Teucrium polium leaves extract (TPLE). Using infrared spectroscopy showed the presence of thirteen compounds for TPLE. Mebendazole (10 mg/mL) caused paralysis and earthworm death by 13.91±0.373 and 18.2±0.980 min, respectively, while, for TPLE (100 mg/ml) were 4.23±0.077 and 4.817±0.386 min. Also, the histological study revealed obvious surface architecture abnormality for treated worms. Moreover, TPLE (300 mg/mL) and formalin (5%) at 72, 96, and 120 hrs led to inhibition of sporulation by approximately 100% with marked deformities, while TPLE (200, 100, 50, and 25 mg/mL), amprolium, DettolTM, and phenol at 120 hr approximately 65.9%, 23.6%, 4.8%, 3.2%, 12.6%, 68.4%, and 46.6%, respectively. This pilot investigation revealed that TPLE possesses anticoccidial and anthelmintic activity, encouraging additional testing in vivo to create a new medication for the treatment of coccidiosis and helminthiasis.

Virtual Screening, ADMET Analysis, and Synthesis of 2-(1H-benzotriazol- 1-yl) N- substituted Acetohydrazide that Binds to the Glycoprotein B of Herpes Simplex Virus-I (HSV-I)

Background: Herpes simplex Virus type 1 (HSV-1) is a contagious human pathogen causing severe infection. In recent decades, the virus has become dormant and resistant to available treatment creating the need for the development of new therapeutic agents against it. Benzotriazole is a versatile molecule with a wide range of activities like antibacterial, antiprotozoal, antiulcer, anthelmintic, and antiproliferative activity. Methods: A series of 2-(1H- benzotriazole-1-yl) N- substituted acetohydrazide derivatives were synthesized using the method given in the literature. The derivatives were obtained in good yield and characterized by spectral methods of analysis. The antiviral activity against the glycoprotein B of Herpes Simplex Virus-I (HSV-I) was determined using molecular docking (2GUM). Result: All compounds had strong binding affinity over the standard Acyclovir. Compound 5h had the highest binding affinity and the highest inhibitory activity. Conclusion: The Benzotriazole-N- substituted acetohydrazide derivatives has the highest bind-ing affinity and good inhibition of glycoprotein B of Herpes Simplex Virus-I (HSV-I), which makes it a good antiviral agent.

Unveiling the Anthelminthic Potential of Merremia vitifolia Stem through in Vitro and in Silico Approach.

This study aimed to assess the anthelmintic activity of methanol extracts from Merremia vitifolia stems using a combination approach encompassing experimental, in vitro, and in silico evaluations. Despite the well-recognized pharmacological properties of M. vitifolia, its potential as an anthelmintic agent remained unexplored. This plant's anthelmintic potential was assessed on adult earthworms (Pheretima posthuma), revealing a dose-dependent reduction in spontaneous motility leading to paralysis and eventual mortality. The most effective dose of M. vitifolia (200 mg/ml) for anthelmintic effects on Pheretima posthuma was identified. Complementary in silico investigations were also conducted, employing Autodock PyRx 0.8 for docking studies of reported M. vitifolia compounds. Notably, quercetin emerged as a promising candidate with superior binding energies against β-tubulin (-8.3 Kcal/mol). Moreover, this comprehensive research underlines the anthelmintic potential of Merremia vitifolia stem extract and highlights quercetin as a noteworthy compound for further investigation in the quest for novel anthelmintic agents.

Exploration of Anthelmintic, Blood Coagulant, Diuretic and Laxative Activities of Different Solvent Fractions of Flagellaria Indica Leaves

Flagellaria indica (Family: Flagellariaceae) is a common climbing plant found primarily in tropical regions of many countries. The plant has various traditional uses, although most of them lack scientific published reports. The crude ethanolic extract of F. indica leaves was fractionated based on polarity using water, ethyl acetate, and n-hexane. Biological screening was conducted on the anthelmintic, blood coagulation, diuretic, and laxative activities of the water, ethyl acetate, and n-hexane fractions of F. indica leaves. In the anthelmintic test, the n-hexane fraction showed a moderate effect with paralysis times of 16.79 and 13.62 minutes and death times of 27.34 and 21.81 minutes, respectively, at doses of 25 and 50 mg/mL.In the blood coagulant test, only the water fraction showed a notable effect. The clotting times were 4.33, 6.02, 7.68, and 8.32 minutes, respectively, at doses of 200, 100, 50, and 25 mg/mL. Diuretic activity was performed to determine the increase in the volume of excreted urine, and electrolyte analysis of urine was performed to determine pH, density, conductance, and Na+, Cl-, K+ levels, as well as natriuretic, kaliuretic, saluretic, and CAI indexes. The ethyl acetate fraction showed better diuretic activity than the n-hexane fraction, while the water fraction did not reveal a notable diuretic effect. The Na+, Cl-, K+, natriuretic, and saluretic indexes were found satisfactory in the ethyl acetate fraction, and the CAI index was better in the n-hexane fraction. In the laxative test, the n-hexane fraction showed the best laxative properties, with an increase in stool weight of 38% and 54% at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg, respectively. These results suggest that different fractions of F. indica leaves contain distinct phytochemicals that may be responsible for these biological effects. The isolation of bioactive compounds could help justify its traditional uses in modern medicine.

Emerging alternatives to traditional anthelmintics: the in vitro antiparasitic activity of silver and selenium nanoparticles, and pomegranate (Punica granatum) peel extract against Haemonchus contortus

Haemonchus contortus (H. contortus) is one of the most prevalent gastrointestinal nematodes, causing health problems and economic losses in ruminants. Nanotechnology holds great promise as a field of science, with potential applications in veterinary medicine. This study investigated the in vitro anthelmintic activity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs), and pomegranate peel extract (Punica granatum; PPE) on different stages of H. contortus: eggs, larvae, and adults. The in vitro anthelmintic efficacy was evaluated using the egg hatching inhibition assay (EHA), the third larval stage paralysis assay (LPA), and the adult worm motility inhibition assay (WMI). Six dilutions of PPE were utilized for EHA, LPA, and WMI, ranging from 0.25 to 6 mg/ml. AgNPs dilutions ranged from 0.00001 to 1.0 μg/ml for EHA and LPA and 1 to 25 μg/ml for WMI. SeNPs were utilized at dilutions of 1, 5, 10, and 15 μg/ml for EHA, LPA, and WMI. The results showed that the lowest concentration of AgNPs, SeNPs, and PPE significantly inhibited egg hatching. To further assess larvicidal activity, AgNPs at the highest concentration of 1 μg/ml induced a strong larvicidal effect, as did SeNPs at the lowest concentration. On the contrary, PPE displayed a significant larvicidal effect at 1 mg/ml compared to the control. The percentage mortality of adult H. contortus was measured as follows (mortality (%) = the number of dead adult H. contortus/total number of adult H. contortus per test × 100). The death of the adult H. contortus was determined by the absence of motility. Adult H. contortus mortality percentage was also significantly affected by all three agents when compared to the control. The AgNPs, SeNPs, and PPE have effective antiparasitic activity on gastrointestinal parasitic nematodes. These results provide evidence of the excellent antiparasitic properties of AgNPs, SeNPs, and PPE, demonstrating their effectiveness in controlling eggs, larvae, and adult H. contortus in vitro.

Sustained release and insect repellent activity of cinnamon essential oil active label based on three-step encapsulating

To address the issue of rapid release of cinnamon essential oil (CEO) in active packaging applications, this study aimed to develop a sustained-release active label. CEO was encapsulated step by step to form cinnamon essential oil microemulsions (CEO-MEs), cinnamon essential oil microcapsules (CEO-MPs), and cinnamon essential oil sustained-release active labels (CEO-SRAL). Microstructure, thermal property and release property of the intermediate and final products obtained through the three-step embedding method were characterized, along with their anthelmintic activity. Results showed that the average particle size of CEO-MEs was 29.02 nm. The BJH pore size of porous CS/β-CD complex was 44.36 nm. CEO was encapsulated step by step and evenly distributed. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis confirmed that multiple encapsulations of CEO didn't result in any adverse chemical reactions. The active label began to degrade at 290–400 °C with great thermal stability. The cumulative release days of CEO-SRAL were 20 days. The cumulative release concentration of CEO in CEO-SRAL was 31.99 mg/mL. Furthermore, the fumigation and repellent rates of three-step packaging products containing CEO to S.oryzae were more than 90%. These results indicated that the three-step encapsulation method could improve the performance of CEO to enhance the use of essential oil.

Model nematodes as a practical innovation to promote high throughput screening of natural products for anthelmintics discovery in South Asia: Current challenges, proposed practical and conceptual solutions

With the increasing prevalence of anthelmintic resistance in animals recorded globally, and the threat of resistance in human helminths, the need for novel anthelmintic drugs is greater than ever. Most research aimed at discovering novel anthelmintic leads relies on high throughput screening (HTS) of large libraries of synthetic small molecules in industrial and academic settings in developed countries, even though it is the tropical countries that are most plagued by helminth infections. Tropical countries, however, have the advantage of possessing a rich flora that may yield natural products (NP) with promising anthelmintic activity. Focusing on South Asia, which produces one of the world’s highest research outputs in NP and NP-based anthelmintic discovery, we find that limited basic research and funding, a lack of awareness of the utility of model organisms, poor industry-academia partnerships and lack of technological innovations greatly limit anthelmintics research in the region. Here we propose that utilizing model organisms including the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, that can potentially allow rapid target identification of novel anthelmintics, and Oscheius tipulae, a closely related, free-living nematode which is found abundantly in soil in hotter temperatures, could be a much-needed innovation that can enable cost-effective and efficient HTS of NPs for discovering compounds with anthelmintic/antiparasitic potential in South Asia and other tropical regions that historically have devoted limited funding for such research. Additionally, increased collaborations at the national, regional and international level between parasitologists and pharmacologists/ethnobotanists, setting up government-industry-academia partnerships to fund academic research, creating a centralized, regional collection of plant extracts or purified NPs as a dereplication strategy and HTS library, and holding regional C. elegans/O. tipulae-based anthelmintics workshops and conferences to share knowledge and resources regarding model organisms may collectively promote and foster a NP-based anthelmintics landscape in South Asia and beyond.

Ecofriendly Green Synthesis and Characterisation of Silver Nanoparticles of Hyoscyamus Niger Seeds and Evaluation of its Anthelmintic Activity

Introduction: Nanotechnology is the design, characterisation and production of molecules or structures at nanometer scale. Metallic nanoparticles have been known for their therapeutic applications for thousands of years. Hyoscyamus niger is a traditional plant used as analgesic, sedative, anthelmintic, antitumour and febrifuge. Objective: An eco-friendly approach was made for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles using aqueos seed extract of Hyoscyamus niger (H.n-AgNPs) and checked for possible anthelmintic activity. Method: Preparation of silver nanoparticles in 1 mM aqueous silver nitrate from Hyoscyamus niger seed. The color shift from yellow to brownish red provided visible evidence of nanoparticle production. UV visible, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) examinations all validated it further. We tested the in vitro anthelmintic activity of various doses of H.n-AgNPs on Indian earthworms.. Results: The size of the H.n-AgNPs synthesized ranged between 8nm to183 nm. Synthesized NPs showed potential anthelmintic activity at 100µg/mlwith paralysis time and death time of 15 min and 34 min respectively where Albendazole was used as standard drug. The phytoconstituents like tannins and phenolic compounds may be responsible for precipitation of proteins or can attach with free proteins in gastrointestinal tract or glycoprotein on parasite cuticle and cause cell death. Conclusion: The H.n-AgNPs synthesized have potential anthelmintic activity which was concentration dependent. Further research will be done to design a new anthelmintic drug using H.n-AgNPs.

UHPLC-MS characterisation of principal triterpene glycosides and biological activities of different solvent extracts of Allochrusa gypsophiloides (Caryophyllaceae)

A crude methanol extract of the roots of Allochrusa gypsophiloides (syn. Acanthophyllum gypsophiloides) (collected from the Tashkent region of Uzbekistan) was chemically characterised by UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS analysis. The results indicate the presence of six major bisdesmosidic saponins derived from gypsogenin, gypsogenic and quillaic acids, including five compounds reported for the first time for this species. The chloroform, methanol and water extracts of A. gypsophiloides showed weak antioxidant and anthelmintic activities. Among the tested extracts, the water extract exhibited the highest level of cytotoxicity in CCRF-CEM and CEM/ADR5000 cell lines with IC50 values of 23.6 and 31.9 µg/mL, respectively.

Microbial mediated Synthesis and characterization of Ag Nanoparticles and its Synergistic impact on Actinobacterial, Anticancer and Antihelminthic activity

In this study, an endophytic actinomycetes strain of Streptomyces viridodiastaticus strain MGR23 was isolated from the roots of the medicinal plant Centella asiatica. The biosynthesized Ag-NPs were characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Zeta potential, which confirmed the successful formation of crystalline, spherical silver nanoparticles. Biosynthesized AgNPs significantly inhibited and reduced the growth of medically important survival microorganisms (Streptomyces viridodiastaticus MGR 23 against Streptomyces toxytricini D2, Acidothermus cellulolyticus CA16, Streptomyces sp. MGR 21, Aciditerrimonas ferrireducens SM7 and Streptomyces tritici D5). The biosynthesized Ag-NPs exhibited broad-spectrum antihelminthic activity. Our data elucidated that the biosynthesized Ag-NPs had a highly cytotoxic effect against the cancerous L6 cell line under in vitro conditions, revealing a maximum IC50 value of 1.0 μg/mL and no known anticancer drug was used as a positive regulation. AgNPs have a remarkable synergistic impact that points to their considerable potential in nanomedicine for future clinical use as a combination therapy.

Nematocidal Activity of Ethanol and Aqueous Extracts of Persea americana Seeds against Heligmosomoides polygyrus using the Worm Microtracker Method.

Infections with gastrointestinal helminths constitute a serious obstacle to the good health of the local population in most African Countries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anthelminthic activity of Persea americana ethanol and aqueous extracts against Heligmosomoides polygyrus using the worm microtracker. Aqueous and ethanolic extracts of P. americana were prepared. Different concentrations of the extracts were tested against the egg and larvae stages of H. polygyrus using an automated high-throughput method. Briefly, embryonated eggs and larvae of this parasite were obtained after the incubation of fresh eggs at 25°C for 24, 48, and 96 hours for embryonated eggs, L1 and L2 larvae, respectively. One hundred microliters of the plant extracts at various concentrations were put in contact in a 96-well microplate with a suspension of 100 embryonated eggs in a total volume of 200 μL and incubated in a worm microtracker where the motility of the worms was recorded every 30 minutes for the ovicidal activity. The final tested extract concentration was 5, 2.5, 1.25, 0.625, and 0.3125 mg/mL, whereas ringer solution (0.95%) and 1.5% Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) were used as negative controls and levamisole as positive control. The same method was used for larvicidal activities. The anthelmintic activity was determined using the average movement of the worms in the tested product compared with the negative control (1.5% DMSO and ringer solution). The egg hatching rates of H. polygyrus had IC50 of 0.49 mg/mL (95% confidence interval: 71.70-92.03) and 0.22 mg/mL (95% confidence interval: 74.28-86.18) for the ethanol and aqueous extract, respectively. These IC50 indicate that the aqueous extract is more active for the inhibition of hatching at a 95% confidence interval. The aqueous and ethanol extracts presented mean inhibitory hatching rates of 78.33 ± 1.67% and 75.67 ± 1.15% at 5 mg/mL, respectively, with no significant differences. The highest percentage of inhibition of L1 larva was observed at 5 mg/mL with 89 ± 2.3%and 85 ± 2.7% for the ethanol and aqueous extracts, respectively. The lowest percentage of inhibition was observed at 0.3125 mg/mL, with 54.67 ± 3.38% and 49 ± 2.64% for the ethanol and aqueous extract, respectively. No significant differences were observed between the two extracts at 5 mg/mL with an inhibitory percentage of 90.67 ± 3.05% (ethanol) and 89.33 ± 2.08% (aqueous). Extracts of P. americana seeds possess nematocidal activity, however, further in silico and in vivo investigations are necessary to confirm their anthelminthic activity.

In vitro Flowering in Aerva lanata (L) Juss. Ex. Schult

Aerva lanata (L.) Juss. ex-Schultz, is a medicinally important herbal plant with many medicinal properties like the antihyperglycaemic, lithotriptic, urolithic, antibiotic, antihelmintic, antihyperlipidemic, antimicrobial and hepatoprotective activity that intrigued us to study and propagate this plant. As the plant displayed challenges in propagation by conventional methods, especially during the off-season, the in vitro multiplication method was deployed. During this experimentation, in vitro flowering for two consecutive years both during the on-season and off-season was recorded. L2 media fortified with 2.5 mg/L IBA, and 1.5 mg/L BAP emerged as the best media for proliferation and direct organogenesis. Resultant shoots were subcultured onto similar media fortified with 1 mg/L GA3 to get elongated inflorescences. As flowers and inflorescences are of great medicinal importance, these results aid in sustaining the plant during the off-season and find its application accordingly.