Effects of Purified Plant Extracts and Homologous Commercial Derivatives on Entamoeba histolytica growth

Abstract

Entamoeba histolytica is a parasitic protist which causes amoebiasis in humans. Amoebiasis causes about 100,000 deaths every year worldwide. Currently, the antibiotic, metronidazole is the only effective treatment for amoebiasis. Metronidazole is effective; however, it has a high toxicity and causes damage to the nervous system. Finding an alternative treatment is necessary to manage the disease better and reduce the risks associated with the current medication. In previous studies, purified plant extracts and homologous commercial derivatives have shown significant antimicrobial character. Previously, we identified pomegranate, rhubarb (rhein), and maple syrup (maplifa) extracts as potential inhibitors of E. histolytica trophozoite growth. The effectiveness of the extracts was assessed by growth inhibition assays monitored at 12, 24, and 48 hours using 60 μM or 120 μM concentrations of pure compounds. Rhein and maplifa, showed promising inhibitory activity on E. histolytica trophozoite growth. Testing of compounds of analogous structures is currently in progress. Future studies will be completed to determine the biochemical mechanism of action of each of these inhibitors and test their toxicity to mammalian tissue cultures in comparison to the current drug of choice, metronidazole.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.