ABSTRACT
Extracts of 23 plant species used popularly against schistosomiasis in Zimbabwe were screened for their anthelmintic effect. Schistosomules of the trematode Schistosoma mansoni and cysticercoids of the cestode Hymenolepis diminuta were studied in vitro. The material consisted of 58 plant extracts, of which 37 killed the newly excysted cysticercoids within an hour, when incubated in a culture medium. Lethal concentrations varied from 0.8 to 103 mg/ml. All plant extracts showed activity against the tapeworms after 24 h. Ten of the best extracts were also tested against schistosomules. Five of these extracts showed activity. Lethal concentrations varied from 0.6 to 33.8 mg/ml of dry plant material. Extracts of stem and root from Abrus precatorius (Fabaceae), of root bark and leaves from Ozoroa insignis (Anacardiaceae) and of root bark from Zizyphus mucronata (Rhamnaceae) gave the best results against tapeworms. The best results against schistosomules were obtained with stem and root extracts from Abrus precatorius (Fabaceae) and stem bark from Elephantorrhiza goetzei (Mimosaceae). Although the activity of root and root bark extracts commonly used in traditional medicine was verified in this study, our results showed that also extracts from leaf and stem can be effective anthelmintics.
Subject(s)
Anthelmintics/pharmacology , Hymenolepis/drug effects , Medicine, African Traditional , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Schistosoma mansoni/drug effects , Animals , Anthelmintics/isolation & purification , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Drug Evaluation, Preclinical , Plant Extracts/isolation & purification , ZimbabweABSTRACT
We have isolated calpromotin, a protein reported abundant in human red cells and shown to be of significance for KCl transport. We show that calpromotin is identical to a radical scavenger protein, thiol-specific antioxidant protein (TSA). Calpromotin is known to exist partially as a large complex of identical subunits and partially as dimers probably held together by disulfide bridges. The stability of the high-molecular-weight form was studied by variations of pH and urea concentration. It is shown that the equilibrium between the large complex and the dimeric subunit is governed by the dissociation of a group with a pK value of about 7.5. Dissociation of the complex was also complete at 2.5 M urea, where no unfolding of the peptide chains was detectable.
Subject(s)
Antioxidants/metabolism , Peroxidases , Proteins/chemistry , Proteins/metabolism , Amino Acid Sequence , Antioxidants/chemistry , Antioxidants/isolation & purification , Chromatography, Gel , Cysteine/chemistry , Cysteine/metabolism , Dimerization , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Erythrocytes , Free Radical Scavengers/blood , Free Radical Scavengers/chemistry , Humans , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Molecular Weight , Peptide Fragments/chemistry , Peptide Fragments/isolation & purification , Peptide Fragments/metabolism , Peroxiredoxins , Protein Denaturation/drug effects , Protein Folding , Proteins/isolation & purification , Sequence Analysis , Solutions , Trypsin/metabolism , Urea/pharmacologyABSTRACT
Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses were used to compare age-related changes in adaptive functioning in institutionalized adults with and without Down syndrome. Cross-sectional analysis showed significant differences related to level of functioning but not to age or etiology of disability. Longitudinal analysis showed a pattern of decline in self-help and communication skills in several individuals with Down syndrome older than 40. The case of an adult with Down syndrome with confirmed Alzheimer pathology at postmortem was presented. Results were discussed in relation to aging and the likelihood of Alzheimer-like changes in individuals with Down syndrome.
