Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Anthelmintic activity of steroidal saponins from Dioscorea zingiberensis C. H. Wright against Dactylogyrus intermedius (Monogenea) in goldfish (Carassius auratus)

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Parasitology Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Dactylogyrus intermedius is one of the most pathogenic monogenean parasites on the gills of captive fish and can cause serious problem in aquaculture. To attempt controlling this parasite and explore novel potential antiparasitic agents, the present study was designed to investigate the anthelmintic activity of Dioscorea zingiberensis C. H. Wright against D. intermedius in goldfish under in vivo conditions. Bioactivity-guided fractionation and isolation of the compounds responsible for anthelmintic activity was carried out with the ethanolic extract yielding two bioactive compounds. Using MS, 1H NMR, 13C NMR spectroscopic analyses, the two compounds were identified as trillin and gracillin. The results of in vivo anthelmintic efficacy assay showed that the 48-h median effective concentrations (EC50) are 26.48 mg L−1 for trillin and 0.18 mg L−1 for gracillin. The 48-h acute toxicity tests (LD50) of trillin and gracillin were found to be 73.11 and 1.40 mg L−1 for goldfish, respectively. The resulting therapeutic indices for the two active compounds are 2.76 and 7.78, respectively. These data confirmed that both trillin and gracillin are effective against D. intermedius, and the gracillin exhibits more interesting perspectives for the development of a candidate antiparasitic agent.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Buchmann K, Slotved HC, Dana D (1993) Epidemiology of gill parasite infections in Cyprinus carpio in Indonesia and possible control methods. Aquaculture 118:9–21

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Calzada F, Alanis AD (2007) Additional antiprotozoal flavonol glycosides of the aerial parts of Helianthemum glomeratum. Phytother Res 21:78–80

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dong M, Feng XZ, Wang BX, Wu LJ, Ikejima T (2001a) Two novel furostanol saponins from the rhizomes of Dioscorea panthaica Prain et Burkill and their cytotoxic activity. Tetrahedron 57:501–506

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dong M, Feng XZ, Wu LJ, Wang BX, Ikejima T (2001b) Two new steroidal saponins from the rhizomes of Dioscorea panthaica and their cytotoxic activity. Planta Med 67:853–857

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dove A, Ernst I (1998) Concurrent invaders-four exotic species of Monogenea now established on exotic freshwater fishes in Australia. Int J Parasitol 28:1755–1764

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ekanem AP, Wang M, Simon JE, Obiekezie AL, Morah F (2004) In vivo and in vitro activities of the seed extract of Piper guineense Schum. and Thonn. against skin and gill monogenean parasites of goldfish (Carassius auratus auratus). Phytother Res 18:793–797

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Finney DJ (1971) Probit analysis, 3rd edn. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Goven B, Gilbert J, Gratzek J (1980) Apparent drug resistance to the organophosphate dimethyl (2, 2, 2-trichloro-1-hydroxyethyl) phosphonate by monogenetic trematodes. J Wildl Dis 16:343–346

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Katharios P, Papandroulakis N, Divanach P (2006) Treatment of Microcotyle sp. (Monogenea) on the gills of cage-cultured red porgy, Pagrus pagrus following baths with formalin and mebendazole. Aquaculture 251:167–171

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kuroda M, Mimaki Y, Kameyama A, Sashida Y, Nikaido T (1995) Steroidal saponins from allium Chinese and their inhibitory activities on cyclic amp phosphodiesterase and Na+/K + ATPase. Phytochemistry 40:1071–1076

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Li C, Yu B, Liu MZ, Hui YZ (1998) Synthesis of diosgenyl a-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 3)]-β-D-glucopyranoside (gracillin) 1 and related saponins. Carbohydr Res 306:189–195

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Liu P, Wu XY, Yue DY (1993) Comprehensive utilization of diosgenin resources. Resour Environ Compr Uti 12:47–49

    Google Scholar 

  • Marshall CJ (1999) Use of Supaverm for the treatment of monogenean infestation in koi carp (Cyprinus carpio). Fish Vet J 4:33–37

    Google Scholar 

  • Miyakoshi M, Tamura Y, Masuda H, Mizutani K, Tanaka O, Ikeda T, Ohtani K, Kasai R, Yamasaki K (2000) Antiyeast steroidal saponins from Yucca schidigera (Mohave yucca), a new anti-food-deteriorating agent. J Nat Prod 63:332–338

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ogawa K (2002) Impacts of diclidophorid monogenean infections on fisheries in Japan. Int J Parasitol 32:373–380

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Qin Y, Wu XH, Huang W, Gong GH, Li D, He Y, Zhao YL (2009) Acute toxicity and sub-chronic toxicity of steroidal saponins from Dioscorea zingiberensis C. H. Wright in rodents. J Ethnopharmacol 126:543–550

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Roberts RJ (2001) The mycology of teleosts, fish pathology, 3rd edn. W.B. Saunders, London, p 334

    Google Scholar 

  • Roman ID, Thewles A, Coleman R (1995) Fractionation of livers following diosgenin treatment to elevate binary cholesterol. Acta Biochem Biophys 1255:77–81

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmahl G, Mehlhorn H (1985) Treatment of fish parasites. 1. Praziquantel effective against Monogenea (Dactylogyrus vastator, Dactylogyrus extensus, Diplozoon paradoxum). Z Parasitenkd 71:727–737

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schmahl G, Mehlhorn H, Haberkorn A (1988) Sym. Triazinone (toltrazuril) effective against fish-parasitizing Monogenea. Parasitol Res 75:67–68

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sharp NJ, Diggles BK, Poortenaar CW, Willis TJ (2004) Efficacy of Aqui-S, formalin and praziquantel against the monogeneans, Benedenia seriolae and Zeuxapta seriolae, infecting yellowtail kingfish Seriola lalandi lalandi in New Zealand. Aquaculture 236:67–83

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sparg SG, Light ME, Staden JV (2004) Biological activities and distribution of plant saponins. J Ethnopharmacol 94:219–243

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Subasinghe RP (2005) Epidemiological approach to aquatic animal health management: opportunities and challenges for developing countries to increase aquatic production through aquaculture. Prev Vet Med 67:117–124

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thoney DA, Hagris WJ (1991) Monogenea (Platyhelminthes) as hazards for fish in confinement. Annu Rev Fish Dis 1:133–153

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Treves-Brown KM (1999) Availability of medicines for fish. Fish Vet J 4:40–55

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang GX, Zhou Z, Cheng C, Yao JY, Yang ZW (2008) Osthol and isopimpinellin from Fructus cnidii for the control of Dactylogyrus intermedius in Carassius auratus. Vet Parasitol 158:144–151

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wang GX, Jiang DX, Zhou Z, Zhao YK, Shen YH (2009a) In vivo assessment of anthelmintic efficacy of ginkgolic acids (C13:0, C15:1) on removal of Pseudodactylogyrus in European eel. Aquaculture 297:38–43

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang GX, Han J, Feng TT, Li FY, Zhu B (2009b) Bio-assay guided isolation and identification of active compounds from Fructus Arctii against Dactylogyrus intermedius (Monogenea) in goldfish (Carassius auratus). Parasitol Res 106:247–255

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zou CC, Hou SJ, Shi Y, Lei PS, Li XT (2003) The synthesis of gracillin and dioscin: two typical representatives of spirostanol glycosides. Carbohydr Res 338:721–727

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the post-doctoral programs and the Science Program of Xi'an (No. GG06114).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Northwest A&F University, Xinong Road 22nd, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China

    Gao-Xue Wang, Dong-Xin Jiang, Jun Li, Jing Han, You-Tao Liu & Xiao-Lin Liu

Authors
  1. Gao-Xue Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Dong-Xin Jiang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jun Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jing Han
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. You-Tao Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Xiao-Lin Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gao-Xue Wang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wang, GX., Jiang, DX., Li, J. et al. Anthelmintic activity of steroidal saponins from Dioscorea zingiberensis C. H. Wright against Dactylogyrus intermedius (Monogenea) in goldfish (Carassius auratus). Parasitol Res 107, 1365–1371 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-010-2010-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-010-2010-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation