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Assessment of the anthelmintic effect of natural plant cysteine proteinases against the gastrointestinal nematode, Heligmosomoides polygyrus, in vitro

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 October 2004

G. STEPEK ,
D. J. BUTTLE ,
I. R. DUCE ,
A. LOWE  and
J. M. BEHNKE
G. STEPEK
Affiliation:
School of Biology, University Park, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
D. J. BUTTLE
Affiliation:
Division of Genomic Medicine, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TH, UK
I. R. DUCE
Affiliation:
School of Biology, University Park, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
A. LOWE
Affiliation:
School of Biology, University Park, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
J. M. BEHNKE
Affiliation:
School of Biology, University Park, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
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Abstract

We examined the mechanism of action and compared the anthelmintic efficacy of cysteine proteinases from papaya, pineapple, fig, kiwi fruit and Egyptian milkweed in vitro using the rodent gastrointestinal nematode Heligmosomoides polygyrus. Within a 2 h incubation period, all the cysteine proteinases, with the exception of the kiwi fruit extract, caused marked damage to the cuticle of H. polygyrus adult male and female worms, reflected in the loss of surface cuticular layers. Efficacy was comparable for both sexes of worms, was dependent on the presence of cysteine and was completely inhibited by the cysteine proteinase inhibitor, E-64. LD50 values indicated that the purified proteinases were more efficacious than the proteinases in the crude latex, with purified ficin, papain, chymopapain, Egyptian milkweed latex extract and pineapple fruit extract, containing fruit bromelain, having the most potent effect. The mechanism of action of these plant enzymes (i.e. an attack on the protective cuticle of the worm) suggests that resistance would be slow to develop in the field. The efficacy and mode of action make plant cysteine proteinases potential candidates for a novel class of anthelmintics urgently required for the treatment of humans and domestic livestock.

Keywords

plant cysteine proteinasesgastrointestinal nematodesanthelminticHeligmosomoides polygyrus
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 130 , Issue 2 , February 2005 , pp. 203 - 211
Copyright
© 2005 Cambridge University Press

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