Hélcio Resende Borba

Anthelmintic activity of the latex of Ficus species

The latex of some species of Ficus (Moraceae) has been traditionally used as vermifuge in Central and South America. It has been accepted that anthelmintic activity is due to a proteolytic fraction called ficin. In the present study, the anthelmintic activity of the latex of Ficus insipida Willd. and Ficus carica L. has been investigated in NIH mice naturally infected with Syphacia obvelata, Aspiculuris tetraptera and Vampirolepis nana. The latex of F. insipida, administered by intragastric route in doses of 4 ml/kg/day during three consecutive days, were effective in the removal of 38.6% of the total number of S. obvelata, being inexpressive in the removal of A. tetraptera (8.4%) and segments of V. nana (6.3%). The latex of F. carica, administered in doses of 3 ml/kg/day, during three consecutive days, was effective in the removal of S. obvelata (41.7%) and it did not produce significant elimination of A. tetraptera (2.6%) and V. nana (8.3%). The observed high acute toxicity with hemorrhagic enteritis, in addition to a weak anthelmintic efficacy, do not recommend the use of these lattices in traditional medicine.

Atividade anti-helmíntica dos flavonóides isolados das raízes de Andira anthelmia (Leguminosae)

Bioactivity-guided fractions of the methanol extract from the roots of Andira anthelmia led the isolation of the isoflavones biochanin A and genistein from the ethyl acetate fraction; biochanin A 7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, biochanin A 7-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)β-D-glucopyranoside and biochanin A 7-O-β-D-apiofuranosyl-(1→5)-β-D-apiofuranosyl-(1→6)β-D-glucopyranoside from the n-butanol fraction and catechin from the methanol one. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopy data. The anthelmintic activity was investigated in mice naturally infected by Aspiculuris tetraptera. The compounds administered in the animals by intragastric route in doses of 2.0 mg.kg-1, were effective in the removal of the total number of the A. tetraptera when compared with the control group.

Preliminary in vitro studies on the Marsypianthes chamaedrys (boia-caá) extracts at fibrinoclotting induced by snake venoms

The extract of Marsypianthes chamaedrys, a plant used against snakebites, in the present study was shown to inhibit fibrinoclotting induced by several Brazilian snake venoms or thrombin. These data indicate that this extract affected thrombin-like enzymes. In this first report we determine some features of the components present in the extract regarding the antifibrinoclotting action. Our results show that active components responsible for those effects are thermo-resistant and are concentrated in the methanolic fraction.

Eimeria spp. from Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica): new characteristic features and diagnostic tools

The Japanese quail Coturnix japonica originated from North Africa, Europe and Asia, is used worldwide as an experimental animal and model for aviculture. The current paper characterizes Eimeria bateri, Eimeria tsunodai and Eimeria uzura recovered from C. japonica. Based on the fact that quails have a global distribution, as are their coccidia, the findings of this study should provide the means for diagnosis of those Eimeria spp. in other regions and continents. Eimeria bateri showed the greatest intensity of infection and shed oocysts from the fourth day after infection; in contrast, E. tsunodai and E. uzura shed oocysts from the fifth day after infection. The three species shared a high degree of similarity and were all polymorphic. Yet, the application of line regressions, histograms and ANOVA provided means for the identification of these species. Finally, the algorithm was very efficient since verified that resultant values were not superimposed.

Efeito anti-helmíntico dos extratos aquosos e etanólicos da Annona squamosa L. (fruta-do-conde) sobre o nematóide Ascaridia galli

Plants are important sources of biologically active natural products. Among the plants used in popular medicine, Annona squamosa, known as sweetsop, is reported to have several medicinal actions such as insecticidal and anthelmintic activity. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the anthelmintic activity of aqueous (AE) and ethanolic (EE) extracts from sweetsop leaves on the chicken roundworm Ascaridia galli, both in vitro and in vivo. In the former, nematodes were placed on a Petri plate containing different concentrations of the extracts; in the in vivo test, six egg-laying chickens per group received 10 mL Kg-1 of the extracts. In vitro results indicated that A. squamosa AE at the concentrations 2.4 and 9.6 mg mL-1 could kill 63.33% and 53.33% nematodes, respectively. However, EE did not have any significant effect. According to the in vivo test, the elimination percentage for AE was 39% and for EE, 20%. These data suggest that the substance responsible for parasite mortality was present at a higher concentration in the aqueous fraction. Thus, A. squamosa AE is believed to have a potential anthelmintic activity on A. galli.

Ação anti-helmíntica de extratos brutos de Andira anthelmia (Vell.) Macbr. e Andira fraxinifolia Benth., em camundongos naturalmente infectados por Vampirolepis nana e Aspiculuris tetraptera

of V. nana, 14.9%, 16.4%, 6.3%, 17.9%, respectively. The same occurred when compared with the control group (7.4%). The doses of 2 and 4 g/kg/day, 49.4% and 42.7, respectively, were significantly more active for V. nana, in comparison with the other anatomical parts and the control group, and did not present any difference in relation to the mebendazole. The 2 g/kg/day dose was significantly more active for A. tetraptera (63.2%), in comparison with the leaves, with the root bark for the doses of 1 and 4 g/kg/day, and with the control group, 1.2%, 1.7%, 31.7%, 15.3%, 0.1%, respectively. However, it did not present any significant difference in relation to nitroscanate, this being less active than mebendazole. Although the 8 g/kg/day dose for the tree bark presented a higher percentage elimination of V. nana (37.5%), no statistical difference was observed, when compared with the other doses, anatomical parts, the control group and the mebendazole. Similarly, no significant difference was observed in the percentage elimination of A. tetraptera. The results suggested the crude extract of the root bark of the A. anthelmia as a promising anthelmintic, requiring further studies, due to the high toxicity presented.

Evaluation of pomegranate (Punica granatum) pericarp aqueous extract on Eimeria spp. from Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica)

Abstract Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antiparasitic properties have been associated with the extract of pomegranate (Punica granatum) in several animals and conditions. The Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica), originated from North Africa, Europe and Asia, is used worldwide as an experimental animal and model for aviculture. The current study investigated the effects of the pomegranate pericarp aqueous extract on the shedding, viability and morphometry of three Eimeria spp. from Japanese quails, besides the weight gain and genotoxic activity. Although the pomegranate is recognized by multiple properties, including anti-coccidial, in the current study the results are contrary. The treated group shed greater amount of oocysts; the sporulation times and viability were similar in both groups; despite some morphometric differences, these were not expressive; weight gains were similar; and the pomegranate had insignificant effect genotoxic. Finally, these results suggest that the pomegranate pericarp extract did not influence on Eimeira spp. from Japanese quails; therefore, the pomegranate pericarp extract is not suggested in the prevention/treatment of coccidiosis in Japanese quails, or at least not using methods of preparation and administration applied in this study.