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Background Infection by nematodes is a problem for human health, livestock, and agriculture, as it causes deficits in host health, increases production costs, and incurs a reduced food supply. The control of these parasites is usually done using anthelmintics, which, in most cases, have not been fully effective. Therefore, the search for new molecules with anthelmintic potential is necessary. Methods In the present study, we isolated and characterized molecules from the nematophagous fungus Pochonia chlamydosporia and tested these compounds on three nematodes: Caenorhabditis elegans; Ancylostoma ceylanicum; and Ascaris suum. Results The ethyl acetate extract showed nematicidal activity on the nematode model C. elegans. We identified the major substance present in two sub-fractions of this extract as ketamine. Then, we tested this compound on C. elegans and the parasites A. ceylanicum and A. suum using hamsters and mice as hosts, respectively. We did not find a difference between the animal groups when considering the number of worms recovered from the intestines of animals treated with ketamine (6 mg) and albendazole (P > 0.05). The parasite burden of larvae recovered from the lungs of mice treated with ketamine was similar to those treated with ivermectin. Conclusions The results presented here demonstrate the nematicidal activity of ketamine in vitro and in vivo, thus confirming the nematicidal potential of the molecule present in the fungus P. chlamydosporia may consist of a new method of controlling parasites.

Supporting Information for this article is available online at http://www.thieme-connect.de/products. ABSTR AC THancornia speciosa is a medicinal species traditionally used in Brazilian folk medicine to treat a variety of conditions. Compounds isolated from the leaves, bark, and trunk of this plant have shown therapeutic properties, but only recently have the fruits of H. speciosa been explored for potential pharmacological applications. The present study investigated the effects of an ethanolic extract from the fruits, fractions, and compounds thereof in bone resorbing cells. Primary osteoclast cultures from bone marrow cells and osteoclasts derived from a monocyte/macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7, were incubated with different concentrations of the ethanolic extract, ethyl acetate fraction, water fraction, quinic acid, and L-( + )-bornesitol. In RAW 264.7 cell cultures, quinic acid significantly reduced osteoclast formation. In bone marrow cell-derived osteoclasts, the ethyl acetate fraction induced a decrease in the number of osteoclasts, promoting a remarkable reduction in the mean area of those cells and in their resorption activity. The compounds quinic acid and bornesitol also affected bone marrow cell-derived osteoclasts. In both cell cultures, the substances tested did not affect cell viability/proliferation. In conclusion, components extracted from H. speciosa fruit affected the cells responsible for bone resorption, making them promising tools for interference in osteoclastogenesis.

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