Efficacy of Ozoroa pulcherrima Schweinf methanolic extract against Schistosoma mansoni-induced liver injury in mice.

The roots of Ozoroa pulcherrima Schweinf are used in traditional medicine to treat intestinal helminthiasis. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of Ozoroa pulcherrima roots methanolic extract (OPME) on liver injury induced by Schistosoma mansoni in mice. A preliminary phytochemical study of OPME was conducted. OPME was given daily and orally to S. mansoni-infected mice at 100, 200 or 400 mg/kg for 28 days, starting from the 36th day post-infection. Praziquantel was used as reference drug. Non-infected and infected-untreated mice served as controls. Worm burden and egg output, transaminases, total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase and total protein; as well as malondialdehyde, catalase and reduced glutathione were evaluated. In OPME, total phenolic was 79.61 ± 0.25 mg gallic acid equivalent/g, while total flavonoid was 7.98 ± 0.04 mg rutin equivalent/g. Treatment of S. mansoni-infected mice with OPME produced significant reduction of worm burden and ova count in the faeces, liver and intestine. Significant reduction of alanine aminotransferase activity (p < 0.001) as well as significant increase of total protein content (p < 0.001) was recorded after OPME treatment at all doses. Total bilirubin level was also reduced (p < 0.01). Administration of OPME at all doses corrected the high malondialdehyde level (p < 0.001) induced by the infection. At 200 mg/kg, catalase activity and reduced glutathione concentration were significantly increased (p < 0.001). OPME at 200 mg/kg showed moderate schistosomicidal effect, but was effective as the standard drug praziquantel in restoring the liver function after S. mansoni infection.

Evaluation of the schistosomicidal, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of the ethyl acetate fraction from Ozoroa pulcherrima Schweinf. Roots on Schistosoma mansoni-induced liver pathology in mice and its phytochemical characterization.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Ozoroa pulcherrima Schweinf. (syn.: Heeria pulcherrrima Schweinf.) is a small shrub belonging to the family Anacardiaceae. In Africa, the stem and the leaves are used to treat dystocia, hyperthermia, and conjunctivitis, while the root is used to treat dysmenorrhea and intestinal helminthiasis. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study was to assess the schistosomicidal, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of the ethyl acetate fraction from O. pulcherrima roots methanolic extract (EAOp) on S. mansoni- induced liver pathology in mice. Additionally, its phytochemical composition was elucidated. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The phytochemical characterization of EAOp was carried out by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were also quantified in the fraction. S. mansoni-infected mice received daily and per os, for 28 days, EAOp at 200 or 400 mg/kg, starting from the 36th day post-infection. Praziquantel was used as reference drug. Uninfected-untreated, uninfected-treated and infected-untreated mice served as controls. At the 65th day post-infection mice were sacrificed and parasitological burden monitored. Transaminases, total bilirubin, and total proteins levels were determined in the plasma. Malondialdehyde (MDA), nitrites, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels were measured in the liver as biomarkers of the oxidative stress. Liver histology and morphometric analysis of granulomas were also conducted. RESULTS: The HPLC-MS analysis data of EAOp revealed the presence of four triterpenes namely oleaterminaloic acid, hydroxyoleanolic acid, moronic acid, and oleanolic acid; a flavonoid dipentoxybenzoic acid and two alkaloids. Its total phenolic content was 76.46 ±â€¯0.01 mg GAE/g and total flavonoid content 6.26 ±â€¯0.31 mg rutin equivalent/g. The reductions of worm burden (48.89 and 75.56%), fecal egg count (77.76 and 69.52%) and egg load in the liver (65.33 and 77.18%) and intestine (78.06 and 84.63%) were significant after EAOp treatment. EAOp at all doses significantly (p < 0.001) reversed the increasing transaminases activities and total bilirubin level induced by the infection. A normalization of total proteins concentration was also recorded. Treatment of S. mansoni-infected mice with EAOp at 200 or 400 mg/kg resulted in a significant reduction (p < 0.001) of MDA concentration by 73.20% and 67.78% respectively. The level of nitrites which was reduced by the infection significantly increased after the treatment. EAOp significantly increased by 4.67 and 5.69-fold the CAT activity and by 126.67% the GSH level. Histologically, a significant reduction of the number (66.39 and 57.82%) and the volume (52.25 and 34.81%) of liver inflammatory granulomas was recorded after EAOp treatment at all doses. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the liver pathology in S. mansoni infection is improved by EAOp which disclosed good schistosomicidal, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Its effects on the liver dysfunction and the hepatic oxidative stress were comparable to that of praziquantel. These findings justified the traditional use of O. pulcherrima for the treatment of intestinal helminthiasis. This fraction can be considered as a promising source for schistosomicidal agents.

Schistosomicidal, hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities of the methanolic fraction from Clerodendrum umbellatum Poir leaves aqueous extract in Schistosoma mansoni infection in mice.

BACKGROUND: The intensive use of Praziquantel for the treatment of schistosomiasis has raised concerns about the possible emergence of drug-resistant schistosomes. As drug treatment is an important feature of schistosome control programs, the search for alternative drugs is therefore a priority. The aim of this study was to assess the schistosomicidal, hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities of the methanolic fraction from Clerodendrum umbellatum Poir leaves aqueous extract. METHODS: A phytochemical screening of the fraction of C. umbellatum was conducted. The fraction was administered orally and daily to Schistosoma mansoni-infected mice (BALB/c) from the 36th day post-infection for 28 days at 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg. Praziquantel (500 mg/kg) was used as reference drug. Non-infected and infected-untreated mice served as controls. All mice were sacrificed at 65th day post-infection. Body weight, liver/body and spleen/body weights, as well as worm burden, fecal egg count, liver and intestine egg load were determined. In the plasma, levels of total protein, transaminases (ALT, AST), alkaline phosphatase and total bilirubin were monitored to assess the possibility of liver damage. Malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT) and glutathione (GSH) levels were measured in the liver as biomarkers of the oxidative stress. RESULTS: The phytochemical analysis of the fraction from C. umbellatum aqueous leaves extract revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, phenols, saponins, tannins and terpenoids. The worm burden, fecal egg count and egg load in the liver and intestine of infected mice treated with the fraction were significantly (p < 0.001) fewer than in infected-untreated mice. Only the highest-fraction dose reduced the worm and egg burdens in a similar way as praziquantel. Hepatosplenomegaly induced by S. mansoni infection was reduced by the treatment. The liver function on infected mice was ameliorate after administration of the fraction by significant reduction of ALT activity (35.43 to 45.25%) and increase of total protein level (44.79 to 70.03%). The methanolic fraction of C. umbellatum prevents the elevated MDA level induced by the infection while significant increase in catalase activity (297.09 to 438.98%) and glutathione level (58.23 to 95.88%) were observed after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: This study disclosed the schistosomicidal, hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities of the methanolic fraction from C. umbellatum leaves aqueous. These fraction's activities were similar to those of praziquantel. This fraction can be considered as a promising source for schistosomicidal agents.