In vitro evaluation of schistosomicidal activity of essential oil of Mentha x villosa and some of its chemical constituents in adult worms of Schistosoma mansoni.

This study aimed to determine the composition of the essential oil of Mentha x villosa and to evaluate its biological effects in vitro on adult worms of S. mansoni. Rotundifolone (70.96 %), limonene (8.75 %), trans-caryophyllene (1.46 %), and ß-pinene (0.81 %) were shown to be the major constituents of this oil. Adult worms of S. mansoni were incubated with different concentrations of the essential oil (1, 10, 100, 250, 500, and 1000 µg/mL) and of its constituents rotundifolone (0.7, 3.54, 7.09, 70.96, 177.4, 354.8, and 700.96 µg/mL), limonene (43.75 µg/mL), trans-caryophyllene (7.3 µg/mL), and ß-pinene (4.03 µg/mL). No schistosomicidal activity was identified at the trans-caryophyllene and ß-pinene concentrations studied. However, use of the essential oil (10 µg/mL), rotundifolone (7.09 µg/mL), and limonene (43.75 µg/mL) resulted in decreased worm motility continuing until 96 hours of observation. At higher concentrations (100 and 70.96 µg/mL, respectively), both the essential oil and rotundifolone caused mortality among adult worms of S. mansoni. The positive control praziquantel caused the death of all parasites after 24 h of evaluation. The results from this study suggest that the essential oil of Mentha x villosa presents schistosomicidal efficacy.

Improved microwave-mediated synthesis of 3-(3-aryl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-yl)propionic acids and their larvicidal and fungal growth inhibitory properties.

The synthesis of 3-(3-aryl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-yl)propionic acids from arylamidoximes and succinic anhydride under focused microwave irradiation conditions is described. The new synthetic method furnished the desired products in 2-3 min and good yields. Furthermore, the previously complicated purification procedure has been simplified in a manner which is quick, eco-friendly and cost-effective. Larvicidal bioassay and fungal growth inhibitory tests were performed using several 3-(3-aryl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-yl)propionic acids. These acids presented strong larvicidal activity against L4 larvae of Aedes aegypti. The results suggest that larvicidal activity might be correlated with the presence of electron-withdrawing substituents in the para position of the phenyl ring except the fluorine atom. The alterations observed in the larvae spiracular valves of the siphon and anal papillae by 1,2,4-oxadiazoles in the larvicidal bioassay are responsible for larvae's death. Furthermore, all acids inhibited the fungal growth of five different types of fungi, viz., Fusarium solani, F. oxysporum, F. moniliforme, F. decemcellulare and F. lateritium in a preliminary evaluation. Both of these activities are being disclosed for the first time for 1,2,4-oxadiazole-5-yl ring linked at C-3 of propionic acid.