Antischistosomal properties of aurone derivatives against juvenile and adult worms of Schistosoma mansoni.

Schistosomiasis is a neglected disease caused by helminth flatworms of the genus Schistosoma, affecting over 240 million people in more than 70 countries. The treatment relies on a single drug, praziquantel, making urgent the discovery of new compounds. Aurones are a natural type of flavonoids that display interesting pharmacological activities, particularly as chemotherapeutic agents against parasites. In pursuit of treatment alternatives, the present work conducted an in vitro and in vivo antischistosomal investigation with aurone derivatives against Schistosoma mansoni. After preparation of aurone derivatives and their in vitro evaluation on adult schistosomes, the three most active aurones were evaluated in cytotoxicity and haemolytic assays, as well as in confocal laser-scanning microscope studies, showing tegumental damage in parasites in a concentration-dependent manner with no haemolytic or cytotoxic potential toward mammalian cells. In a mouse model of schistosomiasis, at a single oral dose of 400 mg/kg, the selected aurones showed worm burden reductions of 35% to 65.0% and egg reductions of 25% to 70.0%. The most active thiophenyl aurone derivative 18, unlike PZQ, had efficacy in mice harboring juvenile S. mansoni, also showing significant inhibition of oviposition by parasites, giving support for the antiparasitic potential of aurones as lead compounds for novel antischistosomal drugs.

Persistence of the red ring nematode in the roots and in the rhizosphere of recently eradicated coconut palms / Persistência do nematoide do anel vermelho nas raízes e na rizosfera de coqueiros recém-erradicados

Red ring disease is one of the primary diseases that attacks the coconut palm (Cocos nucifera L.) inBrazil. This lethal disease is caused by a nematode (Bursaphelenchus cocophilus) and can spread viacontaminated tools or by the South American palm weevil (Rhynchophorus palmarum). The goal of thisresearch was to determine the persistence of nematodes within the roots and the rhizosphere of recentlyeradicated coconut palms, cultivated in the coastal region of the state of Alagoas. Soil and root samplesfrom coconut palms with advanced symptoms of red ring disease were collected up to 6 months afterthe eradication of the plants. Sample processing was conducted at the Ecology and Insect BehaviorLaboratory of the Federal University of Alagoas. Sample collection was ended when B. cocophilus wereno longer found in the laboratory tests. B. cocophilus were able to survive in the coconut palm roots forat least 118 and 133 days after felling (DAF), in Coruripe and São Miguel dos Milagres, respectively.B. cocophilus could migrated from the roots to the soil, where they were found until 76 and 88 DAF, inCoruripe and São Miguel dos Milagres, respectively.(AU)

Dentre as principais moléstias que atacam o coqueiro encontra-se o anel vermelho, doença letal causadapelo nematoide Bursaphelenchus cocophilus, o qual pode ser disseminada por ferramentas contaminadasou através da broca-do-olho-do-coqueiro, Rhynchophorus palmarum. Neste contexto, o presente trabalhode pesquisa teve como objetivo determinar a persistência de nematoides associados à rizosfera decoqueiros recém-erradicados, cultivados na região da Baixada Litorânea do Estado de Alagoas. Foramcoletadas amostras de solo e de raízes de coqueiros com sintomas avançados da doença do anel vermelhoaté seis meses após a erradicação das plantas. O processamento das amostras foi realizado no Laboratóriode Ecologia e Comportamento dos Insetos da Universidade Federal de Alagoas. A coleta de amostras sófoi suspensa a partir do momento em que não foram mais encontrados indivíduos (B. cocophilus) nasavaliações em laboratório. B. cocophilus foi capaz de sobreviver nas raízes dos coqueiros por pelo menos118 e 133 dias após o corte (DAC), em Coruripe e São Miguel dos Milagres, respectivamente. Pode terocorrido a migração do B. cocophilus das raízes para o solo, visto que ele foi encontrado até 76 e 88 DACno solo coletado em Coruripe e de São Miguel dos Milagres, respectivamente.(AU)

Persistence of the red ring nematode in the roots and in the rhizosphere of recently eradicated coconut palms / Persistência do nematoide do anel vermelho nas raízes e na rizosfera de coqueiros recém-erradicados

Red ring disease is one of the primary diseases that attacks the coconut palm (Cocos nucifera L.) inBrazil. This lethal disease is caused by a nematode (Bursaphelenchus cocophilus) and can spread viacontaminated tools or by the South American palm weevil (Rhynchophorus palmarum). The goal of thisresearch was to determine the persistence of nematodes within the roots and the rhizosphere of recentlyeradicated coconut palms, cultivated in the coastal region of the state of Alagoas. Soil and root samplesfrom coconut palms with advanced symptoms of red ring disease were collected up to 6 months afterthe eradication of the plants. Sample processing was conducted at the Ecology and Insect BehaviorLaboratory of the Federal University of Alagoas. Sample collection was ended when B. cocophilus wereno longer found in the laboratory tests. B. cocophilus were able to survive in the coconut palm roots forat least 118 and 133 days after felling (DAF), in Coruripe and São Miguel dos Milagres, respectively.B. cocophilus could migrated from the roots to the soil, where they were found until 76 and 88 DAF, inCoruripe and São Miguel dos Milagres, respectively.

Dentre as principais moléstias que atacam o coqueiro encontra-se o anel vermelho, doença letal causadapelo nematoide Bursaphelenchus cocophilus, o qual pode ser disseminada por ferramentas contaminadasou através da broca-do-olho-do-coqueiro, Rhynchophorus palmarum. Neste contexto, o presente trabalhode pesquisa teve como objetivo determinar a persistência de nematoides associados à rizosfera decoqueiros recém-erradicados, cultivados na região da Baixada Litorânea do Estado de Alagoas. Foramcoletadas amostras de solo e de raízes de coqueiros com sintomas avançados da doença do anel vermelhoaté seis meses após a erradicação das plantas. O processamento das amostras foi realizado no Laboratóriode Ecologia e Comportamento dos Insetos da Universidade Federal de Alagoas. A coleta de amostras sófoi suspensa a partir do momento em que não foram mais encontrados indivíduos (B. cocophilus) nasavaliações em laboratório. B. cocophilus foi capaz de sobreviver nas raízes dos coqueiros por pelo menos118 e 133 dias após o corte (DAC), em Coruripe e São Miguel dos Milagres, respectivamente. Pode terocorrido a migração do B. cocophilus das raízes para o solo, visto que ele foi encontrado até 76 e 88 DACno solo coletado em Coruripe e de São Miguel dos Milagres, respectivamente.