effect of a sublethal concentration of solanum nigrum on some antioxidants in biomphalaria arabica

Schistosomisis is endemic in many rural areas of developing countries. The life cycle of schistosomes is complex with two hosts, an intermediate snail host and a definitive human host. Biomphalaria arabica is the intermediate host for Schistosoma mansoni in Saudi Arabia. One method of controlling the disease is to break the life cycle at the intermediate host snail stage using molluscicides. Snails kill schistosomes by a mechanism involving production of reactive oxygen species. In this study malondialdehyde [MDA], and the antioxidants glutathione [GSH], catalase [CAT] and glutathione peroxidase [GPx] were determined in tissue homogenates of B. arabica treated with sublethal concentration [LC25] of the plant molluscicide Solanum nigrum. MDA, GSH and CAT were significantly increased in molluscicide-treated snails compared to controls [p<0.000]. GPx was decreased in treated snails. It therefore appears that a sublethal concentration of S.nigrum increases both ability of snail tissue to generate cytotoxic ROS and antioxidants for protection of the tissue against the cytotoxicity. The increase in the level of ROS would decrease snail- schist some compatibility

Effect of carnosine administration on certain metabolic parameters in Bilharzial infected hamsters

This study was designed to test the ability of carnosine to cure the metabolic disturbances induced by Schistosoma mansoni parasite. Results indicated that, parasitic infection caused elevation of liver weight/body weight of S. mansoni infected hamsters, induced lipid peroxidation and reduced glycogen level. Moreover, the adenylate energy charge [AEC], ATP/ADP and ATP/AMP concentration ratios were markedly lower in infected hamsters. Administration of carnosine [10 mg/day] for 15 days either concurrent with infection, two and four weeks post exposure was effective in reducing worm burden and egg count only when given at the time of infection. It was also effective in renormalizing most of the measured parameters confirming the glycogen repletion, the antioxidant and AEC correcting actions of carnosine