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In vitro and in vivo antifilarial potential of marine sponge, Haliclona exigua (Kirkpatrick), against human lymphatic filarial parasite Brugia malayi

Antifilarial activity of H. exigua

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Abstract

The present study reports on the antifilarial activity of a marine sponge Haliclona exigua (phylum Porifera). The crude methanol extract and n-butanol-soluble fraction killed adult Brugia malayi at 31.25-μg/ml concentration (both in motility and 3-(4,5 dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay) while the chloroform fraction was lethal at a lower concentration of 15.6 μg/ml. The activity could be located in a single molecule araguspongin C which brought about mortality of worm at 15.6 μg/ml. In vivo evaluation of the crude extract (5 × 500 mg/kg, orally) and the chloroform fraction (5 × 250 mg/kg, orally) in B. malayi-infected rodent host, Mastomys coucha, did not show any significant microfilaricidal actions; however, microfilarial densities in both the treated groups were significantly much lower than those of untreated group in contrast to standard filaricide diethylcarbamazine which exerted 79% microfilaricidal action on day 8 of treatment. Both these extracts also demonstrated adulticidal (macrofilaricidal) activity which was more pronounced in the chloroform fraction (50.2%). In addition, there was moderate adverse effect on the reproductive potential of female worms (crude extract 46.5%; chloroform 58.6%). The findings suggest that the marine sponge H. exigua possesses adulticidal and embryostatic action against human lymphatic filarial parasite B. malayi in experimental rodent model and this activity could be attributed to the presence of araguspongin C.

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Acknowledgments

The work was supported by the Department of Ocean Development, New Delhi, India. We thank Director, CDRI for encouragement and support and to Mr. H. R. Mishra, N. P. Mishra, A. K. Roy, and R. N. Lal for technical assistance. The financial assistance in the form of fellowship by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (SM) is gratefully acknowledged. This manuscript bears CDRI communication no. 7797.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medicinal and Process Chemistry Division, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, 226001, India

    Vijai Lakshmi, Shishir Srivastava & Sunil Kumar Mishra

  2. Parasitology Division, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, 226001, India

    Sweta Misra, Meenakshi Verma & Shailja Misra-Bhattacharya

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  1. Vijai Lakshmi
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  2. Shishir Srivastava
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  3. Sunil Kumar Mishra
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  4. Sweta Misra
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  5. Meenakshi Verma
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  6. Shailja Misra-Bhattacharya
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Correspondence to Shailja Misra-Bhattacharya.

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Lakshmi, V., Srivastava, S., Kumar Mishra, S. et al. In vitro and in vivo antifilarial potential of marine sponge, Haliclona exigua (Kirkpatrick), against human lymphatic filarial parasite Brugia malayi . Parasitol Res 105, 1295–1301 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-009-1555-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-009-1555-1

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