In vitro efficacy of Cymbopogon citratus (lemon grass) essential oil on S. mansoni adult worms: A study on motility, tegument ultrastructural changes, and oxidative stress biomarkers | ||
| Parasitologists United Journal | ||
| Article 12, Volume 18, Issue 2, September 2025, Pages 174-184 PDF (770.23 K) | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/puj.2025.401134.1305 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Nancy M Harba; Engy V Beshay; Mona M Ghanem; Doaa I M Abogalalah* | ||
| Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Menoufia, Egypt | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Background: Since Praziquantel (PZQ) is not effective against juveniles, much attention was directed to natural products. Anti-parasitic activities were reported for lemon grass essential oil. Objective: To assess the in vitro effect of lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus) essential oil on S. mansoni adults. Material and Methods: One hundred and fifty S. mansoni adults, of both sexes, were divided into five equal groups, categorized as normal control group (GI), PZQ (1 μg/ml) exposed group (GII), and C. citratus oil extract (CCO)-exposed groups (III, IV, and V) at concentrations of 10 μg/ml, 50 μg/ml and 100 μg/ ml, respectively. All groups were incubated and observed after 24 h and 48 h to evaluate worm motility, tegumental morphological changes, the activity of oxidative stress biomarkers glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide diSmutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA); as well as gene expression of ubiquitin protein ligase Hul5 (SmHul5) and deubiquitinating enzyme Ubp6 (SmUbp6). Results: It was demonstrated that CCO was effective against S. mansoni adults in vitro in a concentration-dependent manner. It significantly reduced worm motility and induced obvious changes in tegumental ultrastructure. Additionally, there was a notable decrease in GPx activity, accompanied by an increase in SOD activity at 10, and 50 concentrations, while the higher concentration (100 μg/ml) led to significant SOD inhibition. Activity of MDA showed marked increase. Due to oxidative stress, and damaged proteins, gene expression of SmHul5, and SmUbp6 displayed up-regulations. Conclusion: It is concluded that CCO is a promising schistosomicidal agent for future studies. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| C. citratus; in vitro; motility; oxidative stress; proteosome gene expression; schistosomiasis; tegument ultrastructure | ||
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