[STEROIDAL GENINS AND GLYCOSIDES OF SPIROSTAN AND FUROSTAN SERIES AS ANTHELMINTHIC AGENTS]

It was established that steroidal genins and their glycosides of the spirostan series and (especially) furostan series show anticestodal activity against Hymeiolepis nana species. Search for anthelminthic agents in the indicated series of compounds is a promising direction of research.

Anthelmintic activities of aporphine from Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. cv. Rosa-plena against Hymenolepis nana

Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. cv. Rosa-plena (Nelumbonaceae), commonly known as lotus, is a perennial aquatic plant grown and consumed throughout Asia. All parts of N. nucifera have been used for various medicinal purposes in oriental medicine. From the leaves of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. cv. Rosa-plena (an aquatic plant), liriodenine (1), lysicamine (2), (−)-anonaine (3), (-)-asimilobine (4), (-)-caaverine (5), (-)-N-methylasimilobine (6), (-)-nuciferine (7), (-)-nornuciferine (8), (-)-roemerine (9), 7-hydroxydehydronuciferine (10) and cepharadione B (11) were isolated and identification and anthelmintic activities of aporphine was evaluated against Anisakis simplex and Hymenolepis nana. This study found that the above constituents killed H. nana or reduced their spontaneous movements (oscillation/peristalsis). However, the above constituents at various concentrations demonstrated no larvicidal effect or ability to halt spontaneous parasite movement for 72 h against A. simplex, respectively. In addition, according to an assay of cestocidal activity against H. nana and nematocidal activity against A. simplex, we found that the above compounds showed greater lethal efficacy on H. nana than against A. simplex. Further investigation showed that these above constituents have effects against peroxyl radicals under cestocidal effect. Together, these findings suggest that these constituents of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. cv. Rosa-plena might be used as anthelmintic agents against H. nana.

Cytokine production in Hymenolepis nana infection

BACKGROUND

Although many experimental studies provide convincing evidence that type II immunity is protective against helminths, recent data in mice demonstrate that Th1 is also important in some cestodes like Hymenolepis nana.

OBJECTIVES

To identify the role of Th1 and Th2 lymphocytes in immunity against H. nana, the levels of IL-12, IFNgamma, IL-5, and IL-13 were determined in serum of humans infected with this cestode.

METHODS

A total of 31 patients (case) with H. nana infection and 30 clinically healthy individuals (control) was included in this study. Measurements of IL-12, IFNgamma, IL-13 and IL-5 in serum samples were performed by solid-phase sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbant assay. Differential leukocyte count was also done. T test, Mann Whitney U test and Wilcoxan W test were used for data analysis.

RESULTS

The mean concentrations of IFNgamma, IL-12 and IL-5 in the sera of patients with H. nana infection were higher than the control group, but only the differences between the concentrations of IFNgamma (P<0.001) and IL-13 (P<0.05) in the two groups were significant. There was an increase in the percentage of monocytes, eosinophils and lymphocytes in patients when compared to the controls, but this increase was not significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Results from the present study in humans are in agreement with experimental studies in animals in which both Th1 and Th2 responses occur in H. nana infection.