Toxocara canis: Prospective activity of Quercetin and venom of Cassiopea andromeda (Cnidaria: Cassiopeidae) against third‐stage larvae in vitro

• Published in: Journal of experimental zoology. Part A, Ecological and integrative physiology Ecological and integrative physiology, 2024-11, Vol.341 (9), p.991-1001
• Main Authors: Elmahy, Rasha A., Moustafa, Alaa Y., Radwan, Nahla A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Albendazole; Animals; Antinematodal Agents - pharmacology; Antiparasitic agents; Biological activity; Biological effects; Body wall; Cassiopea andromeda; Chemotherapy; Cnidaria; Electron microscopy; herbal extract; jellyfish; Larva - drug effects; Larvae; Larval stage; Lethal limits; Marine biology; Marine invertebrates; nematicidal activity; Parasitic diseases; Plates; Quercetin; Quercetin - pharmacology; Scanning electron microscopy; SEM; Toxocara canis; Toxocara canis - drug effects; Toxocariasis; Ultrastructure; Venom
• ISSN: 2471-5638; 2471-5646; 2471-5646
• DOI: 10.1002/jez.2852

Toxocariasis is a zoonotic parasitic infection with worldwide distribution and high impact on human health. It has a limited clinical resolution with the available drugs, making it challenging to treat. Quercetin, which possesses biological and pharmacological qualities including antiparasitic, antioxidant, and anticancer activities, is a possible substitute for the current medications. Marine invertebrates can produce a vast array of different molecules, many of which are biologically active substances with distinct characteristics. In this study, we assessed the in vitro nematocidal effect of both quercetin and venom of Cassiopea andromeda (jellyfish) against third larvae of Toxocara canis. In microplates with Roswell Park Memorial Institute‐1640 medium, larvae were incubated with ethanolic extract of quercetin (0.01, 0.02, 0.05, 0.08, 0.1, 0.25, and 0.5 mM/mL) and water extract of C. andromeda venom (15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, and 60 µg/mL) to evaluate their larvicidal effect. A scanning electron microscopy has investigated the possible effect of lethal concentration (LC90) of both extracts on the body wall of cultivated larvae, in comparison with those cultivated in albendazole. Our study revealed the effects of both quercetin and C. andromeda venom exposure on the mortality rate and the ultrastructure of T. canis third larva in comparison with control and albendazole‐treated groups. Research highlights Biological activity of quercetin could be used as chemotherapy for larval stages of parasitic nematode. Bioactive products in jellyfish venom is positively affect the larval stage of Toxocara.