Anthelmintic Activity of Antioxidants: In Vitro Effects on the Liver Fluke Opisthorchis felineus

Abstract

Currently, molecular parasitologists are searching for new agents against trematodiases. Redox metabolism is important for parasites as far as long-lived adult parasites inside a mammalian host are exposed to redox challenges. Antioxidants have been poorly studied as anthelmintic agents, in particular against the foodborne trematodes. Study of in vitro anthelmintic activity of nonenzymatic natural and synthetic antioxidants of various chemical structures was performed using standard motility and mortality assays against juvenile and adult Opisthorchis felineus worms. Promising agents have been found among both natural and synthetic compounds. The mitochondria-targeted antioxidant SkQ1 [10-(6′-plastoquinonyl)decyltriphenylphosphonium] in motility assays was as effective (half-maximal inhibitory concentration [IC50] 0.6–1.4 μM) as praziquantel (IC50 0.47–1.4 μM), and SkQ1 was significantly more effective than praziquantel in mortality assays. Moreover, extensive tegument damage of the adult fluke was revealed after SkQ1 treatment. Flavonoids manifested potency too, with IC50 values in a micromolar range (5.1–17.4 μM). Other natural and synthetic compounds tested against helminths were significantly less effective than praziquantel. Results of our study indicate that SkQ1 and flavonoids have high anthelmintic activities against the liver flukes. We propose that structure–activity relationship research might be worthwhile based on the structures of the most effective substances.

The Relationship Between MDA and TAOS in Liver Infected with Hydatid Cysts

“…It has been emphasized that the balance between oxidation and antioxidants is critical to a healthy biological system. Low doses of antioxidants may be beneficial for this system, but higher amounts may violate the balance (Mordvinov et al, 2021).…”

Botanical Control of Parasites in Veterinary Medicine

“…felineus by using motility and mortality assays, whereby the most effective substance on the motility of adult flukes was quercetin with an IC50 value of 5.1 μM. On the other hand, a concentration of 10 μM flavone led to a mortality of 22-35% by day 15, which was significantly higher than that of untreated worms (Mordvinov et al 2021). Echinococcosis represents a tapeworm cosmopolitan zoonotic disease where dogs are definitive hosts of the parasite (adult worms), while livestock and humans are intermediate hosts (larval, cystic form).…”

Plastoquinone-Derivative SkQ1 Improved the Biliary Intraepithelial Neoplasia during Liver Fluke Infection

“…The significant decrease in the level of biliary intraepithelial neoplasia that we observed, as well as a decrease in gene expression and production of pro-inflammatory proteins, can be explained, among other things, by a decrease in the level of parasitic load in hamsters. In addition, preliminary data showed that SkQ1 affects the motility of juvenile and adult O. felineus worms in vitro [24]. Therefore, we assessed the anthelmintic activity of SkQ1 in vivo.…”