<p><em>Cucurbita pepo</em> Seed Oil Induces Microsatellite Instability and Tegumental Damage to <em>Schistosoma mansoni</em> Immature and Adult Worms In vitro</p>

Abstract

Background: Schistosomiasis is a tropical parasitic disease treated exclusively with praziquantel (PZQ). However, PZQ has low efficacy against schistosomula and juveniles. In addition, the emergence of PZQ resistance has prompted the search for new drugs. Methods: This study investigated the effects of pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo)-seed oil (PSO) on Schistosoma mansoni adults, juveniles, and newly formed schistosomula in vitro by exposing the parasites to increasing concentrations of PSO (20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 µl/ mL) with variable incubation periods (24, 48, and 72 hours). Dose-response effects of PSO on mortality rate, worm activity, and tegumental changes were studied. Also, effect on DNA were assessed with microsatellite analysis. Results: All tested stages of S. mansoni were susceptible to PSO, which was more effective than PZQ on juvenile worms and schistosomula. Juveniles and schistosomula S. mansoni were more sensitive to the antischistosomal activity of PSO than adult worms. PSO showed evident changes in the integuments of adults, juveniles, and schistosomula. These changes were more evident with increased concentrations. At the genomic level, PSO induced clear qualitative and quantitative changes in the microsatellite loci R95529 and SMD57 of S. mansoni adults and schistosomula. This microsatellite instability is being reported through the current study for S. mansoni in response to PSO for the first time. Conclusion: This study suggested that PSO possesses effective antischistosomal activity against various stages of S. mansoni. Further investigations are needed to figure out the mechanism of action of PSO on this parasite.

In Silico Study of Cucurbita maxima Compounds as Potential Therapeutics Against Schistosomiasis

“…10 Cucurbita cultivars such as Cucurbita pepo and Cucurbita moschata have also been tested for anti-schistosomal activity. C. pepo seed oil has been shown to induce microsatellite instability and tegumental damage to S. mansoni in vitro, 11 while the curative effect of C. moschata was observed when patients infected with schistosomiasis were treated with daily doses of the powdered seeds. 9 Cucurbita maxima are rich in alkaloids, flavanoids, phenolics, carbohydrates, tannins, saponins, terpenoids, and proteins.…”

Effect of replacing dietary soybean meal with pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) seed cake on growth, feed utilization, haematological parameters and fatty acid composition of mirror carp (Cyprinus carpio)

“…PSC contains certain bioactive components, such as tocopherols, phytosterols and squalene, which have positive health effects (Akin et al, 2018; Bardaa et al, 2016; Rabrenović et al, 2014; Salehi et al, 2019). Of the medicinal plants, pumpkin seeds have been used for various therapeutic and pharmacological approaches including anti‐inflammatory and anticancer (Salehi et al, 2019), antioxidant (Bardaa et al, 2016), antibacterial (Amin et al, 2020; Musthafa et al, 2017), antiparasitic (Ammar et al, 2020) and anthelmintic approaches (Acorda et al, 2019). In addition to these health benefits, using such by‐products in animal feeds confers an economic gain due to the lower market price, besides providing alternative feed ingredients for the feed industry.…”