Pumpkin-seed oil possesses effective antischistosomal activity against various stages of S. mansoni. - GreenMedInfo Summary
Seed Oil Induces Microsatellite Instability and Tegumental Damage toImmature and Adult Worms In vitro.
Infect Drug Resist. 2020 ;13:3469-3484. Epub 2020 Oct 7. PMID: 33116667
Amany Ibrahim Ammar
Background: Schistosomiasis is a tropical parasitic disease treated exclusively with praziquantel (PZQ). However, PZQ has low efficacy against schistosomula and juveniles. In addition, the emergence of PZQ resistance has prompted the search for new drugs.
Methods: This study investigated the effects of pumpkin ()-seed oil (PSO) onadults, juveniles, and newly formed schistosomula in vitro by exposing the parasites to increasing concentrations of PSO (20, 40, 60, 80, and 100µl/mL) with variable incubation periods (24, 48, and 72 hours). Dose-response effects of PSO on mortality rate, worm activity, and tegumental changes were studied. Also, effect on DNA were assessed with microsatellite analysis.
Results: All tested stages ofwere susceptible to PSO, which was more effective than PZQ on juvenile worms and schistosomula. Juveniles and schistosomulawere more sensitive to the antischistosomal activity of PSO than adult worms. PSO showed evident changes in the integuments of adults, juveniles, and schistosomula. These changes were more evident with increased concentrations. At the genomic level, PSO induced clear qualitative and quantitative changes in the microsatellite loci R95529 and SMD57 ofadults and schistosomula. This microsatellite instability is being reported through the current study forin response to PSO for the first time.
Conclusion: This study suggested that PSO possesses effective antischistosomal activity against various stages of. Further investigations are needed to figure out the mechanism of action of PSO on this parasite.
