Antiparasitic Potential of Chromatographic Fractions of Nephrolepis biserrata and Liquid Chromatography-Quadrupole Time-of-Flight-Mass Spectrometry Analysis

Abstract

Marine aquaculture development is recently impeded by parasitic leech Zeylanicobdellaarugamensis (Hirudinea, Piscicolidae) in Sabah, Malaysia. The parasitic leech infests a variety of cultured fishes in aquaculture facilities. In this study, we evaluated the antiparasitic activity of the chromatographic fractions of the medicinal plant Nephrolepis biserrata methanol extract against Z.arugamensis and highlighted the potential metabolites responsible for the antiparasitic properties through liquid chromatography (LC)–quadrupole time-of-flight (QTOF)–mass spectrometry (MS) analysis. Out of seven fractions obtained through flash column chromatography techniques, three fractions demonstrated antiparasitic properties. Significant parasitic mortality was indicated by fraction 3 at a concentration of 2.50 mg/mL, all the leeches were killed in a time limit of 1.92 ± 0.59 min. followed by fraction 4 (14 mg/mL) in 34.57 ± 3.39 and fraction 5 (15.3 mg/mL) in 36.82 ± 4.53 min. LC-QTOF-MS analysis indicated the presence of secondary metabolites including phytosphingosine (6), pyrethrosin (1), haplophytine (9), ivalin (2), warburganal (3), isodomedin (4) and pheophorbide a (16), representing sphingoid, alkaloid, terpenoid, phenolic and flavonoid groups. Thus, our study indicated that the chromatographic fractions of N. biserrata demonstrated significant antiparasitic activity against the marine parasitic leeches due to the presence of potent antiparasitic bioactive compounds.

Antimicrobial Potential of Aqueous Extract of Giant Sword Fern and Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography–High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry Analysis

“…The aqueous extract of GSF also displayed antiparasitic potential and caused the complete death of the parasitic leech, Z. arugamensis , in a dose-dependent manner. At doses ranging from 100 to 25 mg/mL, all the parasitic leeches were killed in 11–43 min, whereas the methanol extract and fraction 3 at concentrations of 100 and 2.5 mg/mL of the same plant killed the leeches in an average time of 4 and 1.9 min, respectively [ 6 , 21 ]. It appears, based on our previously published data that the methanol extract of the plant caused parasitic leeches to die faster than the aqueous extract.…”

“…The aqueous extract was dissolved in filtered seawater and applied to the parasitic leeches in a Petri dish. During the experiment, inactivity, mortality time and percentage of the parasite leeches were recorded [ 21 ].…”

“…The plant holds considerable potential as a source of metabolites with antiparasitic properties. In our previous studies, we investigated the antiparasitic potential of the methanol extract and fractions of the plant [6,[19][20][21]. Building on this preliminary work, our current study aims to explore the antimicrobial potential of the aqueous extract of GSF and to identify several In the aquaculture industry, the use of toxic chemicals is a common practice to control Vibriosis and prevent parasite infestations [2,16,17].…”

Efficacy of the Aqueous Extract of Azadirachta indica Against the Marine Parasitic Leech and Its Phytochemical Profiling

“…However, our treatment using the aqueous extract of A. indica took less time than D. suffruticosa to kill all the leeches. Further, the exposure of the methanol extract and chromatographic fraction (fraction 3) of Nephrolepis biserrata (Nephrolepidaceae, perennial fern) was applied against Z. arugamensis at a concentration of 100 and 2.5 mg/mL and killed all the leeches in 4.88 and 1.92 min, respectively [33,34]. Similarly, the methanol extracts of Allium sativum (Amaryllidaceae, garlic) (600 µg/mL) were tested against the aquatic leech Limnatis nilotica (Hirudinidae) and took 144.55 min for total mortality [35].…”