Extract and the quassinoid ailanthone from Ailanthus altissima inhibit nematode reproduction by damaging germ cells and rachis in the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans.

Bark and leaves of Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle are widely used in European folk medicine to treat intestinal worm infections. The study aimed to rationalize a potential anthelmintic effect of A. altissima extract against the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. A methanol-water (7:3, v/v) extract of the primary stem bark was tested on L4 larvae of C. elegans for induction of mortality and influence on reproduction. Bioactivity-guided fractionation was performed by chromatography on MCI-gel, preparative HPLC on RP18 stationary phase and fast-centrifugal-partition-chromatography. Structural elucidation of isolated quassinoids was performed by NMR and HR-ESI-MS. The sterilizing effect on C. elegans was investigated by light microscopy and atomic force microscopy of ultra-sections. Different GFP-tagged reporter strains were used to identify involved signaling pathways. A. altissima extract (1 mg/mL) irreversibly inhibited the reproduction of C. elegans L4 larvae. This effect was dependent on the larval stage since L3 larvae and adults were less affected. Bioactivity-guided fractionation revealed the quassinoid ailanthone 1 as the major active compound (IC50 2.47 µM). The extract caused severe damages to germ cells and rachis, which led to none or only poorly developed oocytes. These damages led to activation of the transcription factor DAF-16, which plays a major role in the nematode's response to stress. A regulation via the respective DAF-2/insulin-like signaling pathway was not observed. The current findings support the traditional use of A. altissma in phytotherapy to treat helminth infections and provide a base for standardization of the herbal material.

Der Gesteinsabbau durch Ätzmuscheln an Kalkküsten.

The depth of water and the inclination angle of the coast and, in particular, the kind of substratum determine the distribution and population density of date mussels. Oolitic limestones are twice to three times as highly populated as dolomites.The growth takes place in stages, between periods of rest. 10 to 20% ofLithophaga lithophaga having a length of about ∼30mm grew by 0.4 to 3.1 mm in the period of 12 weeks in the substratum. 1 to 2% of mussels with a size of 50 to 60 mm grew by 0.1 to 1 mm outside the substratum. Small mussels grew more frequently and to relatively greater extent than big ones. The first 10 mm of growth in length occurs in the first three years, the next 10 mm after 5 years, etc. so that the biggest mussels (80 mm) will be about 80 years old.The boring activity depends on the condition of the animal and, largely, on the kind of substratum. The boring rate on prepared stones in the open was 0.09 to 0.25 ml in 12 weeks forLithophaga lithophaga with a size of 30mm, that is 0.5 to 1 ml per year. In the laboratory, this amounted to only a third.The depth of the etching effect depends on the granule size in the substratum. The crystals released from the substrate are removed as pseudofeces via the ciliary epithelium. The amount of the fine sediment may be calculated roughly from the volume of the hole.Finally, an attempt is made to apply the experimental findings to the conditions prevailing in the sampling area. It is true that the destruction of the coast by date mussels is restricted to relatively small areas, but it may amount to more than 40 cm/m2 at a depth of 1 to 2 meters and continue for a period of 1000 years on the steep slope of oolitic limestones.