Evaluation of anthelmintic activity and in silico PASS assisted prediction of Cordia dichotoma (Forst.) root extract

Abstract

Background:Worm infection and associated complications are severe problems that afflict a large population worldwide. Failure of synthetic drugs in worm infections because of drug resistance has made alternative drug therapy desirable. Cordia dichotoma (Forst.) is an ethnomedicinal plant which is rich in several secondary metabolites. Traditionally, the plant has been claimed to have high medicinal properties including antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity.Materials and Methods:The study begun with an aim to explore plant-based natural anthelmintic agents against Pheretima posthuma, an Indian earthworm. Methanol extract of the drug was obtained by successive soxhlet extraction. The extract was tested for different phytochemicals. Worms were exposed to 10 mg/ml, 25 mg/ml, 50 mg/ml, and 75 mg/ml concentrations of extract and standard drug, albendazole. A software-based tool, prediction of activity spectra for substances was used to estimate anthelmintic efficacy of plant metabolites.Result:The phytochemical analysis revealed presence of alkaloids, tannins, glycosides, saponins, flavonoids, and phenols. The extract showed dose-dependent effects, affecting worm motility, viability, and mortality. It was also found that the biological activity spectrum of the plant phytoconstituents such as octacosanol, lupeol, caffeic acid, and hentricontanol were >0.5 (probable activity > 0.5).Conclusion:The findings of the present work suggest that the extract of C. dichotoma significantly interferes with motility pattern of P. posthuma. The paralysis and mortality of P. posthuma might be due to the combined effects different phytoconstituents. The extract of C. dichotoma promises natural sources to control worm infection.

Anthelmintic activity of Piper sylvaticum Roxb. (family: Piperaceae): In vitro and in silico studies

“…The standard drug, levamisole acts as a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist, and it causes persistent stimulation of the parasitic worm muscles, leading to paralysis and ultimately leads to death. Several bioactive phytoconstituents such as alkaloids, tannins, saponins, and flavonoids were found predominantly during preliminary phytochemical analysis of the methanol extract of P. sylvaticum which have been associated with anthelmintic properties [19,22]. Besides, the plant, P. sylvaticum has been already found to be rich in various plant secondary metabolites such as piperine, piperlonguminine, β-sitosterol, and N-isobutyldeca-trans-2-trans-4-dienamide [7].…”

“…Moreover, most of the clinically active drugs are from natural products which indicate the importance of drugs having natural sources in drug discovery process. So, it is essential to study the medicinal plants so that the discovery of active natural products ingredient can be identified for healing diseases and then the identified active ingredients could be synthesized in the laboratory [18,19]. With this view, the plant, P. sylvaticum has been investigated for the evaluation of anthelmintic activity using aquarium worm followed by in silico molecular docking study and ADME/T analysis.…”

“…Here, alkaloids can produce paralysis by acting on the central nervous system (CNS) whereas tannins and polyphenols selectively bind to free proteins present in the GI tract (gastrointestinal tract) and eventually cause mortality. On the other hand, the anthelmintic efficacy of saponins is due to its membrane permeabilising property [19,22]. The anthelmintic activity of the MEPSS may be due to a single compound or combined effect of these phytochemicals.…”

Prediction of Anti-Parkinson Potential of Phytoconstituents Using Prediction of Activity Spectra of Substances Software

“…If Pa value is more than 0.5 but <0.7 for any activity, then the probability of that action is less in pharmacological experiment. If Pa value is <0.5, then the probability of observing that activity in pharmacological experiment is less [7][8][9][10].…”

Anti-Melanogenic Effect of Chestnut Spike Extract through Downregulation of Tyrosinase-Related Proteins and Activation of ERK 1/2

“…In silico analysis was carried out to obtain the biological activity spectra of the major compounds in spike extract. PASS predictions are based on the structuralactivity relationship analysis of training sets that contain more than 205,000 compounds, including more than 3,750 species [16]. In PASS analysis, the structures of phytochemical compounds are compared with those of well-known biologically active materials, and the results reveal whether a phytochemical compound has a specific effect [17].…”