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In vitro PHYTOTHERAPY OF VECTOR SNAILS BY BINARY COMBINATIONS OF LARVICIDAL ACTIVE COMPONENTS IN EFFECTIVE CONTROL OF FASCIOLIASIS

Fitoterapia in vitro de caramujos vetores por combinações binárias de componentes ativos larvicidas como controle efetivo de fasciolíase

Abstracts

SUMMARY

A food-borne trematode infection fascioliasis is one among common public health problems worldwide. It caused a great economic loss for the human race. Control of snail population below a certain threshold level is one of the important methods in the campaign to reduce the incidence of fascioliasis. The life cycle of the parasite can be interrupted by killing the snail or Fasciola larva redia and cercaria inside of the snail Lymnaea acuminata. In vitro toxicity of different binary combinations (1:1 ratio) of plant-derived larvicidal active components such as citral, ferulic acid, umbelliferone, azadirachtin and allicin against Fasciola redia and cercaria were tested. The mortality of larvae was observed at 2h, 4h, 6h and 8h of treatment. In in vitro condition azadirachtin + allicin (1:1 ratio) was highly toxic against redia and cercaria (8h LC50 0.006 and 0.005 mg/L). Toxicity of citral + ferulic acid was lowest against redia and cercaria larvae.

Lymnaea acuminata; Fascioliasis; Redia; Cercaria; Active larvicides


RESUMO

A infecção alimentar pelo trematóide da fasciolíase é uma dentre os mais comuns problemas de saúde pública mundiais, causando grande prejuízo econômico para a humanidade. Controle da população de caramujos abaixo de determinado nível é um dos métodos no campo mais importantes para a redução da incidência da fasciolíase. O ciclo de vida do parasita pode ser interrompido pela morte do caramujo ou da larva redia e cercária da Fasciola dentro da Lymnaea acuminata. Foi testada a toxicidade in vitro das diferentes combinações binárias (relação 1:1) entre os vários componentes larvicidas ativos da planta tais como citral, ácido ferúlico, umbeliferone, azadiractina, e alicina contra a Fasciola redia e a cercária. A mortalidade das larvas foi observada após duas, quatro, seis e oito horas de tratamento. A condição in vitro azadiractina + alicina (relação 1:1) foi altamente tóxica contra redia e cercária (8h LC50 0,006 e 0,005 mg/L). Toxicidade do citral + ácido ferúlico foi a mais baixa contra redia e larvas de cercária.


INTRODUCTION

Fasciola spp is the causative agent of endemic fascioliasis in different parts of the world1616. Mas-Coma S, Valero MA, Bargues MD. Chapter 2: Fasciola Lymnaeids and human fascioliasis with a global overview on disease transmission, epidemiology, evolutionary genetics, molecular epidemiology and control. Adv Parasitol. 2009;69:41-146.. F. hepatica has worldwide distribution but predominates in temperate zones, while F. gigantica is found primarily in tropical regions22. Agarwal RA, Singh DK. Harmful gastropods and their control. Acta Hydrochim Hydrobiol. 1988;16:113-38. 1414. Mas-Coma S, Bargues MD, Valero MA. Fascioliasis and other plant borne trematode zoonoses. Int J Parasitol. 2005;35:1255-78. 1515. Mas-Coma S, Estebam JG, Bargues MD. Epidemiology of human fascioliasis: a review and proposed new classification. Bull World Health Organ. 1999;77:340-6.. This disease belongs to the plant-borne trematode zoonoses. The definite host is very broad and includes many herbivorous mammals, including humans. Bovine fascioliasis is very common in the eastern region of Uttar Pradesh, India2222. Singh V, Singh DK. The effect of abiotic factor on the toxicity of cypermethrin against the snail Lymnaea acuminata in the control of fascioliasis. J Helminthol. 2009;83:39-45.. SINGH & AGARWAL2525. Singh O, Agarwal RA. Toxicity of certain pesticides to two economic species of snail in northern India. J Econ Entomol. 1981;74:568-71. reported that 94% of buffaloes slaughtered in local slaughtered house in Gorakhpur district are infected with F. gigantica. In northern India Lymnaea acuminata is the intermediate host of F. gigantica 22. Agarwal RA, Singh DK. Harmful gastropods and their control. Acta Hydrochim Hydrobiol. 1988;16:113-38.. Although control of snail population below a threshold level is one of the important methods for effective control of fascioliasis99. Jaiswal P, Singh DK. Molluscicidal activity of Nutmeg and Mace (Myristica fragrans Houtt.) against the vector snail Lymnaea acuminata. J Herbs Spices Medicinal Plants. 2009;15:177-86. 1111. Kumar P, Singh DK. Molluscicidal activity of Ferula asafoetida, Syzygium aromaticum and Carum carvi and their active components against the snail Lymnaea acuminata. Chemosphere. 2006;63:1568-74. 1313. Kumar P, Singh VK, Singh DK. Kinetics of enzyme inhibition by active molluscicidal agent ferulic acid, umbelliferone, eugenol and limonene in the nervous tissues of snail Lymnaea acuminata. Phytother Res. 2009;23:172-7., yet snails are one of the important components in the aquatic ecosystem. Release of molluscicides in aquatic system for snail control also affects the other non-target organism. The Fasciola larval stages sporocyst, redia and cercaria are in division phases of F. gigantica in the snail body. If these larvae will be destroyed by plant molluscicides at sublethal concentration in the snail body, the rate of infection can be reduced without killing the snail. Binary combinations of different plants derived active larvicides such as citral (Zingiber officinale), ferulic acid, umbelliferone (Ferula asafoetida), azadirachtin (Azadirachta indica), and allicin (Allium sativum)3030. Sunita K, Singh DK. Fascioliasis control: in vivo and in vitro phytotherapy of vector snail to kill Fasciola larva. J Parasitol Res. 2011;2011:1-7. were tested against Fasciola larvae in in vitro condition. It is a new approach to reduce incidence of the fascioliasis without killing the intermediate host snail.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Animals: Infected adult Lymnaea acuminata (2.6 ± 0.20 cm in length) were collected locally. The snails were allowed to acclimatize for 24h in laboratory condition. Each infected snail was dissected in a glass Petri dish containing 10 mL l of dechlorinated water at 22 °C-24 °C. The pH of the water was 7.1-7.3 and dissolved oxygen, free carbon dioxide and bicarbonate alkalinity were 6.5-7.2 mg/L, 5.2- 6.3mg/L and 102.0-105.0 mg/L, respectively.

After dissection redia and cercaria were separated in different Petri dish containing 10 mL l of dechlorinated water. These larvae were kept in dechlorinated tap water where they survived for up to 48h in laboratory conditions. Snail L. acuminata and Fasciola gigantica were identified by Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Kolkata.

Active larvicidal components: Citral, ferulic acid, umbelliferone, azadirachtin and diallyl disulfide were purchased from Sigma chemical Co. (U.S.A). Allicin was prepared by the method of SINGH & SINGH2727. Singh VK, Singh DK. Characterization of allicin as a molluscicidal agent in Allium sativum (garlic). Biol Agric Hortic. 1995;12:119-31..

Efficacy determination

In vitro:In vitro efficacy of active larvicidal components in binary combinations (1:1 ratio) were performed in petri dish by the method of SUNITA & SINGH3030. Sunita K, Singh DK. Fascioliasis control: in vivo and in vitro phytotherapy of vector snail to kill Fasciola larva. J Parasitol Res. 2011;2011:1-7.. Ten redia and cercaria of F. gigantica were separated into different Petri dishes containing 10 mL l dechlorinated tap water. Mortality of redia and cercaria were observed after 2h, 4h, 6h and 8h of treatment. In control, no treatments were given in Petri dish. Usually, in in vitro conditions (control) survival of 72h in dechlorinated water. Counting of larvae in control and treated groups was performed with the help of a microscope. Each experiment was replicated six times.

Effective concentrations to kill 50% (EC50), low and upper confidence limits (LCL and UCL), Slop-values, t-ratio, g value and heterogeneity factor were calculated with the help of the POLO computer program of ROBERTSON et al. 1919. Robertson JL, Russell RM, Preciter HK, Savin NE. Bioassay with arthropods data. 2nd ed. Boca Raton: Taylor and Francis, CRC Press; 2007. p. 1-224.. One way ANOVA and product moment correlation coefficient was applied by the method of SOKAL & ROHLF2828. Sokal RR, Rohlf FJ. Introduction of biostatistics. San Francisco: W.H. Freeman; 1996..

RESULTS

In vitro larvicidal activity of different binary combinations (1:1 ratio) of active components against the redia and cercaria larva of F. gigantica was time and concentration dependent (Table 1 and 2). In in vitro treatments, binary combinations of azadirachtin + allicin were more efficient against redia and cercaria. The 8h EC50 of azadirachtin + allicin against redia/cercaria larvae in in vitro treatment was 0.006mg/L / 0.005mg/L, respectively (Table 1 and 2). Citral + ferulic acid efficacy against both larval stages was lowest (Table 1 and 2). Significant (p < 0.05) negative regression was observed in between exposure period and EC50 of different plant products. There was no mortality of F. gigantica larvae in control group.

Table 1
In vitro toxicity of different binary combinations (1:1 ratio) of active larvicidal components against the redia larva of F. gigantica
Table 2
In vitro toxicity of different binary combination of active larvicidal components against the cercaria larva of F. gigantica.

The slope values were steep and separate estimation of LC based on each six replicate were found within the 95% confidence limit of EC50. The t-ratio was greater than 1.96 and the heterogeneity less than 1.0. The g-value was less than 0.5 at all probability levels (90, 95 and 99 respectively) (Table 1-2).

DISCUSSION

The present study clearly indicates that the active components of Zingiber officinale (citral), Ferula asafoetida (ferulic acid, umbelliferone), Azadirachta indica oil (azadirachtin) and Allium sativum (allicin) and their binary combinations have sufficient larvicidal activity against different larva of F. gigantica in in vitro treatments. The alcoholic extract of bulbs of A. sativum has also shown moderate in vitro antihelminitic activity against human Ascaris lumbricoides 1818. Raj KR. Screening of indigenous plant for anthelmintic action against human Ascaris lumbricoides: part II. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 1975;19:47-50.. A. sativum has been reported to be effective in dysentery and also act as vermifuge1717. Nadkarni KM. Indian Materia Medica. Popular Prakashan. Bombay: Private Limited; 1976. v. 1 and 2. 2121. Schavenberg P, Paris F. Guide to medicinal plants. London: Lutterworth Press; 1977.. Oil of A. sativum has also been reported to possess antihelmintic activity88. Hoppe HA, Drogenkunde. Angiosperms. 8th ed. Berlin: Walter De Gruyter; 1975. v. 1. 1010. Kirtikar KR, Basu BD. Indian medicinal plants. Part II. Bahadurgay: Indian Press; 1981. 2929. Steenis-Kruseman MJV. Select Indonesian medicinal plants organize. Sci Res Indonesia Bull. 1953;18:31. and discards all injurious parasites in the intestine1717. Nadkarni KM. Indian Materia Medica. Popular Prakashan. Bombay: Private Limited; 1976. v. 1 and 2.. In vitro and in vivo efficacy of single treatments of the active components citral, ferulic acid, umbelliferone, azadirachtin and allicin against redia and cercaria larva of F. gigantica have potent larvicidal activity3030. Sunita K, Singh DK. Fascioliasis control: in vivo and in vitro phytotherapy of vector snail to kill Fasciola larva. J Parasitol Res. 2011;2011:1-7..

Z. officinale is a perennial plant and is considered to be the universal medicine in Ayurveda. The antihelminthic activity of ethanolic extracts of rhizomes of Z. officinale against human Ascaris lumbricoides is appreciable1818. Raj KR. Screening of indigenous plant for anthelmintic action against human Ascaris lumbricoides: part II. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 1975;19:47-50.. GOTO et al. 77. Goto C, Kasuya S, Koga K, Ohtomo H, Kaget N. Lethal efficacy of extract from Zingiber officinale (traditional Chinese medicine) or [6]-shogaol and [6]-gingerol in Anisakis larvae in vitro. Parasitol Res. 1990;76:653-6. reported the lethal effect of Z. officinale on Anisakis larvae in vitro. The anti-filarial effect of Z. officinale against Dirofilaria immitis has been reported by DATTA & SUKUL44. Datta A, Sukul NC. Antifilarial effect of Zingiber officinale on Dirofilaria immitis. J Helminthol. 1987;61:268-70.. ADEWUNMI et al. 11. Adewunmi CO, Oguntimein BO, Furu P. Molluscicidal and antischistosomal activities of Zingiber officinale. Planta Med. 1990;56:374-6., SINGH et al. 2626. Singh S, Singh VK, Singh DK. Molluscicidal activity of some common spice plants. Biol Agric Hortic. 1997;14:237-49. have reported the molluscicidal activity of Z. officinale.

Ferulic acid and umbelliferone extracted from Ferula asafoetida root latex are potent molluscicides against L. acuminata 1111. Kumar P, Singh DK. Molluscicidal activity of Ferula asafoetida, Syzygium aromaticum and Carum carvi and their active components against the snail Lymnaea acuminata. Chemosphere. 2006;63:1568-74. 1212. Kumar P, Singh VK, Singh DK. Bait formulations of molluscicides and their effects on biochemical changes in the ovotestis of snail Lymnaea acuminata (Mollusca; Gastropoda: Lymnaeidae). Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo. 2011;53:271-5. 1313. Kumar P, Singh VK, Singh DK. Kinetics of enzyme inhibition by active molluscicidal agent ferulic acid, umbelliferone, eugenol and limonene in the nervous tissues of snail Lymnaea acuminata. Phytother Res. 2009;23:172-7.. The antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, antispasmodic, antihelminthic activity of F. asafoetida extract and ferulic acid were reported by various workers55. Eigner D, Scholz D. Ferula asafoetida and Curcuma longa in traditional treatment and diet in Nepal. J Ethnopharmacol. 1999;67:1-6. 66. Fatehi M, Farifteh F, Fatehi-Hassanabad Z. Antispasmodic and hypotensive effects of Ferula asafoetida gum extract. J Ethnopharmacol. 2004;91:321-4. 2020. Saleem M, Alam A, Sultana S. Asafoetida inhibits early events of carcinogenesis: a chemopreventive study. Life Sci. 2001;68:1913-21.. Spigelia anthelmia inhibits the motility of Haemonchus contortus larva33. Assis LM, Bevilequa CML, Morais SM, Vieira LS, Costa CTC, Souza JAL. Ovicidal and larvicidal activity in vitro of Spigelia anthelmia Linn. extract on Haemonchus contortus. Vet Parasitol. 2003;117:43-9., SINGH et al. 2424. Singh K, Singh A, Singh DK. Molluscicidal activity of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss). J Ethnopharmacol. 1996;52:35-40. observed that A. indica have molluscicidal activity against L. acuminata. In vitro treatment of citral, ferulic acid, umbelliferone, azadirachtin and allicin caused toxicity against redia (8h EC50 4.14, 0.45, 0.63, 0.07 and 0.01 mg/L, respectively) and cercaria (8h EC50 6.08, 0.44, 0.27, 0.08 and 0.009 mg/L, respectively) larva of F. gigantica 3030. Sunita K, Singh DK. Fascioliasis control: in vivo and in vitro phytotherapy of vector snail to kill Fasciola larva. J Parasitol Res. 2011;2011:1-7.. Binary combinations of ferulic acid + azadirachtin against redia larva is 64.28 times more effective than single treatment of ferulic acid, where as in case of cercaria citral + allicin was 53.80 times more effective than single treatment of citral (Table 3). Earlier it was reported that citral (24h EC50 - 68.95 mg/L), ferulic acid (24h EC50 - 2.21 mg/L), umbelliferone (24h EC50 - 3.43mg/L), azadirachtin (24h EC50 - 0.35mg/L), and allicin (24h EC50- 6.34 mg/L) are potent molluscicides against L. acuminata 1111. Kumar P, Singh DK. Molluscicidal activity of Ferula asafoetida, Syzygium aromaticum and Carum carvi and their active components against the snail Lymnaea acuminata. Chemosphere. 2006;63:1568-74. 2323. Singh K, Singh A, Singh DK. Molluscicidal activity of different combinations of the plant products used in the molluscicides Pestoban. Biol Agric Hortic. 1995;12:253-61. 2626. Singh S, Singh VK, Singh DK. Molluscicidal activity of some common spice plants. Biol Agric Hortic. 1997;14:237-49. 2727. Singh VK, Singh DK. Characterization of allicin as a molluscicidal agent in Allium sativum (garlic). Biol Agric Hortic. 1995;12:119-31.. 8h EC50 of binary combinations of these larvicidal components against redia/cercaria larva is 1.25 (allicin + umbelliferone)/ 1.23 (citral + umbelliferone) times low that kill the intermediate host L. acuminata. Different concentrations of binary combinations used to kill redia and cercaria are not toxic to the snail, even in a 24h exposure period. Use of these plants and their active component in killing the redia and cercaria of F. gigantica without killing the host snail is important. The snail is a crucial component of aquatic ecosystem. The present studies clearly demonstrate that direct treatment of the redia and cercaria will be a more efficient method to control fascioliasis.

Table 3
Synergism in the in vitro larvicidal activity of different binary combinations against redia and cercaria larva of F. gigantica at 8h exposure period

The steep slope value indicates that a small increase in the concentration of different larvicide caused higher larval mortality. A t-ratio value greater than 1.96 indicates that the regression is significant. The heterogeneity factor value of less than 1.0 denotes that in the replicate test of random samples, the concentration response is limited and, thus, the model fits the data adequately. The index of significance of the potency estimation g indicates that the value of the mean is within the limit at all probability levels (90, 95, and 99, respectively) since it is less than 0.51919. Robertson JL, Russell RM, Preciter HK, Savin NE. Bioassay with arthropods data. 2nd ed. Boca Raton: Taylor and Francis, CRC Press; 2007. p. 1-224..

It can be concluded from the present study that binary combination of these natural products will be more helpful in controlling the redia/cercaria than their single components, because their larvicidal effect is 1.25 to 64.28/ 1.23 to 53.80 more effective in killing the larva. The effective toxic concentration in the binary combinations of each larvicidal component is lower and would be safer in aquatic environment.

One of the authors (Kumari Sunita) is thankful to Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship (RGNF), University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi for financial assistance.

REFERENCES

  • 1
    Adewunmi CO, Oguntimein BO, Furu P. Molluscicidal and antischistosomal activities of Zingiber officinale. Planta Med. 1990;56:374-6.
  • 2
    Agarwal RA, Singh DK. Harmful gastropods and their control. Acta Hydrochim Hydrobiol. 1988;16:113-38.
  • 3
    Assis LM, Bevilequa CML, Morais SM, Vieira LS, Costa CTC, Souza JAL. Ovicidal and larvicidal activity in vitro of Spigelia anthelmia Linn. extract on Haemonchus contortus. Vet Parasitol. 2003;117:43-9.
  • 4
    Datta A, Sukul NC. Antifilarial effect of Zingiber officinale on Dirofilaria immitis. J Helminthol. 1987;61:268-70.
  • 5
    Eigner D, Scholz D. Ferula asafoetida and Curcuma longa in traditional treatment and diet in Nepal. J Ethnopharmacol. 1999;67:1-6.
  • 6
    Fatehi M, Farifteh F, Fatehi-Hassanabad Z. Antispasmodic and hypotensive effects of Ferula asafoetida gum extract. J Ethnopharmacol. 2004;91:321-4.
  • 7
    Goto C, Kasuya S, Koga K, Ohtomo H, Kaget N. Lethal efficacy of extract from Zingiber officinale (traditional Chinese medicine) or [6]-shogaol and [6]-gingerol in Anisakis larvae in vitro. Parasitol Res. 1990;76:653-6.
  • 8
    Hoppe HA, Drogenkunde. Angiosperms. 8th ed. Berlin: Walter De Gruyter; 1975. v. 1.
  • 9
    Jaiswal P, Singh DK. Molluscicidal activity of Nutmeg and Mace (Myristica fragrans Houtt.) against the vector snail Lymnaea acuminata. J Herbs Spices Medicinal Plants. 2009;15:177-86.
  • 10
    Kirtikar KR, Basu BD. Indian medicinal plants. Part II. Bahadurgay: Indian Press; 1981.
  • 11
    Kumar P, Singh DK. Molluscicidal activity of Ferula asafoetida, Syzygium aromaticum and Carum carvi and their active components against the snail Lymnaea acuminata. Chemosphere. 2006;63:1568-74.
  • 12
    Kumar P, Singh VK, Singh DK. Bait formulations of molluscicides and their effects on biochemical changes in the ovotestis of snail Lymnaea acuminata (Mollusca; Gastropoda: Lymnaeidae). Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo. 2011;53:271-5.
  • 13
    Kumar P, Singh VK, Singh DK. Kinetics of enzyme inhibition by active molluscicidal agent ferulic acid, umbelliferone, eugenol and limonene in the nervous tissues of snail Lymnaea acuminata. Phytother Res. 2009;23:172-7.
  • 14
    Mas-Coma S, Bargues MD, Valero MA. Fascioliasis and other plant borne trematode zoonoses. Int J Parasitol. 2005;35:1255-78.
  • 15
    Mas-Coma S, Estebam JG, Bargues MD. Epidemiology of human fascioliasis: a review and proposed new classification. Bull World Health Organ. 1999;77:340-6.
  • 16
    Mas-Coma S, Valero MA, Bargues MD. Chapter 2: Fasciola Lymnaeids and human fascioliasis with a global overview on disease transmission, epidemiology, evolutionary genetics, molecular epidemiology and control. Adv Parasitol. 2009;69:41-146.
  • 17
    Nadkarni KM. Indian Materia Medica. Popular Prakashan. Bombay: Private Limited; 1976. v. 1 and 2.
  • 18
    Raj KR. Screening of indigenous plant for anthelmintic action against human Ascaris lumbricoides: part II. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 1975;19:47-50.
  • 19
    Robertson JL, Russell RM, Preciter HK, Savin NE. Bioassay with arthropods data. 2nd ed. Boca Raton: Taylor and Francis, CRC Press; 2007. p. 1-224.
  • 20
    Saleem M, Alam A, Sultana S. Asafoetida inhibits early events of carcinogenesis: a chemopreventive study. Life Sci. 2001;68:1913-21.
  • 21
    Schavenberg P, Paris F. Guide to medicinal plants. London: Lutterworth Press; 1977.
  • 22
    Singh V, Singh DK. The effect of abiotic factor on the toxicity of cypermethrin against the snail Lymnaea acuminata in the control of fascioliasis. J Helminthol. 2009;83:39-45.
  • 23
    Singh K, Singh A, Singh DK. Molluscicidal activity of different combinations of the plant products used in the molluscicides Pestoban. Biol Agric Hortic. 1995;12:253-61.
  • 24
    Singh K, Singh A, Singh DK. Molluscicidal activity of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss). J Ethnopharmacol. 1996;52:35-40.
  • 25
    Singh O, Agarwal RA. Toxicity of certain pesticides to two economic species of snail in northern India. J Econ Entomol. 1981;74:568-71.
  • 26
    Singh S, Singh VK, Singh DK. Molluscicidal activity of some common spice plants. Biol Agric Hortic. 1997;14:237-49.
  • 27
    Singh VK, Singh DK. Characterization of allicin as a molluscicidal agent in Allium sativum (garlic). Biol Agric Hortic. 1995;12:119-31.
  • 28
    Sokal RR, Rohlf FJ. Introduction of biostatistics. San Francisco: W.H. Freeman; 1996.
  • 29
    Steenis-Kruseman MJV. Select Indonesian medicinal plants organize. Sci Res Indonesia Bull. 1953;18:31.
  • 30
    Sunita K, Singh DK. Fascioliasis control: in vivo and in vitro phytotherapy of vector snail to kill Fasciola larva. J Parasitol Res. 2011;2011:1-7.

Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    Sep-Oct 2013

History

  • Received
    1 Apr 2012
  • Accepted
    13 Dec 2012
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