Genistein: is the multifarious botanical a natural anthelmintic too?

Abstract

Genistein (4',5,7-trihydroxyisoflavone) is naturally present in plants of the soy family and is known to have various pharmacological activities, such as anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-oxidant, etc. The phytoestrogen is one of the major isoflavones found in some medicinal plants having anthelmintic properties. This review describes the putative role of genistein as an anthelmintic, which has been tested on some helminth parasites in vitro. Genistein has been shown to cause paralysis and alterations in the tegument and tegumental enzymes (acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, adenosine triphosphatase, and 5'-nucleotidase) of helminth parasites. Alterations in the activities of several enzymes associated with the coordination system (specifically non-specific esterases, acetylcholine esterase, and nitric oxide synthase), and changes in the concentration of nitric oxide, cGMP, free amino acid pool, and tissue ammonia are observed in helminth parasites treated with genistein. The phytoestrogen also affects the carbohydrate metabolism by altering the activities of key enzymes involved in glycogen- and glucose-metabolism of a cestode parasite. Considering the significance of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) in glycolysis of the cestode parasite, i of the phytoestrogen for PEPCK in the parasite has been determined, and molecular docking of genistein into the active site of the enzyme has also been described. The potential beneficial role of genistein as a natural alternative in management of helminth parasites needs to be further explored, particularly considering its in vivo efficacy and pharmacokinetics.

Caenorhabditis elegans: a model to study the anthelmintic effects of polyphenolic compounds on the fertility of parasitic gastrointestinal nematodes?

“…Egg output and development were positively correlated in a moderate level. The nematocidal effects of Genistein against helminth parasite and cestodes were already confirmed (Tandon and Das, 2018), as well as the embryonic and larval lethality of Flavone against C. elegans (Yong-Uk et al, 2008). Due to the low number of studies on Hydrolysable tannin, we decided to include Gallic and Tannic acid among our assays.…”

Genistein and Daidzein effects on the physiological indices of Soybean Cyst Nematodes

“…Previous studies have also demonstrated that isoflavone inhibited or slowed the motility of Heterodera zeae, Meloidogyne javanica and Meloidogyne incognita juveniles (Faizi et al, 2011;Shaukat et al, 2003;Sommerville and Davey, 2002;Wuyts et al, 2006). Genistein and terpenoids have shown to cause paralysis and alterations in the tegument and tegumental enzymes of nematodes (Tandon and Das, 2018). Exposure to 0.5 mg mL -1 Genistein provided a pronounced reduction of the activity of non-specific esterases (NSE) and cholinesterase (ChE), which were found in close association with the central and peripheral nervous components (Maule et al, 1993).…”

Antiparasitic effects of selected isoflavones on flatworms

“…Genistein (5, 7-dihydroxy-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl) chromen-4-one) is an isoflavanoid compound, naturally occurring in plants of the soy family, belonging to a group of nutraceuticals ( Tandon & Das, 2018 ) ( Fig. 3 ).…”

“…Rao and Reddy (1991) examined the plant’s active ingredients where genistein represented the major component in the ethanolic extract of plant root tuber peel, which was subsequently used for its isolation. According to many in vitro studies (see for review: Tandon & Das, 2018 ), genistein has been shown to affect several enzymatic systems, localized in the tegument and other worm´s compartments in various species of helminths, thus suggesting its multiple molecular targets.…”