In vitro Activity of Ozoroa pulcherrima Schweinf. Extracts and Fractions on Schistosoma mansoni Cercariae and Adult Worms
Nestor Gipwe Feussom
Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O.Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon and Centre for Schistosomiasis and Parasitology, P.O.Box 7244, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Hermine Boukeng Jatsa *
Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O.Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon and Centre for Schistosomiasis and Parasitology, P.O.Box 7244, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Mérimé Christian Kenfack
Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O.Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon and Centre for Schistosomiasis and Parasitology, P.O.Box 7244, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Emilienne Tienga Nkondo
Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O.Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon and Centre for Schistosomiasis and Parasitology, P.O.Box 7244, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Ulrich Membe Femoe
Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O.Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon and Centre for Schistosomiasis and Parasitology, P.O.Box 7244, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Joseph Bertin Kadji Fassi
Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O.Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon and Centre for Schistosomiasis and Parasitology, P.O.Box 7244, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Christelle Dongmo Tsague
Laboratory of Phytochemistry, Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O.Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Etienne Dongo
Laboratory of Phytochemistry, Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O.Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Paul Désiré Djomeni Dzeufiet
Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O.Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Louis-Albert Tchuem Tchuente
Centre for Schistosomiasis and Parasitology, P.O.Box 7244, Yaoundé, Cameroon and Laboratory of Biology, Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O.Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: Continuous attempts are being made to develop new and more effective drugs for the treatment of schistosomiasis. Ozoroa pulcherrima Schweinf. is a medicinal plant used in Africa for the treatment of dysmenorrhea, lower abdominal pain, dystocia and intestinal helminthiasis. This study provides findings on the cercaricidal and schistosomicidal activity of extracts and fractions of Ozoroa pulcherrima in in vitro assays.
Methodology: The aqueous and methanolic extracts from Ozoroa pulcherrima root parts (62.5 – 2000 µg/mL), as well as the methanol derived fractions (n-hexane and ethyl acetate: 31.25 – 1000 µg/mL) were tested on cercariae and adult worms of Schistosoma mansoni. Niclosamide-olamine 5% (1 µg/mL) and praziquantel (10 µg/mL) were respectively used as reference drugs. During the assays, the mortality of cercariae after 2 hours, and adult worms’ mobility and mortality after 48 hours of incubation were evaluated.
Results: Ozoroa pulcherrima extracts and fractions significantly increased cercariae and worm mortality in a concentration-dependent manner. The methanolic extract was the most active on cercariae with a LC50of 20.65 µg/mL after 30 minutes, while the n-hexane fraction was the most active on worm with a LC50 of 79.54 μg/mL (65.58 – 96.47 μg/mL) after 48 hours. Significant reduction of motor activity (18.47 to 100%) was recorded for surviving worms incubated in different concentrations of the extracts and fractions.
Conclusion: This study proves that Ozoroa pulcherrima extracts and fractions have cercaricidal and schistosomicidal activities. Ozoroa pulcherrima may have great potential as an anti-schistosomal agent for further research.
Keywords: Ozoroa pulcherrima, cercaricidal activity, schistosomicidal activity, Schistosoma mansoni