“THERAPEUTIC EVALUATION OF PRAZIQUANTEL AND QUERCETIN IN ADULT WORMS: S.MANSONI REGARDING IN VITRO EXPERIMENTATION” (Atena Editora)

Abstract

Introduction: Schistosomiasis is an infectious parasitic disease caused by worms of the genus Schistosoma. In Brazil, its greatest endemicity is in the state of Pernambuco. Currently, treatment is performed with Praziquantel (PZQ), also the only drug of choice. However, as PZQ-resistant strains are expanding rapidly, the development of new therapeutic approaches is extremely important. Quercetin (QUER) is a flavonoid widely distributed in nature that provides the body with several benefits, such as: potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, gastro and hepatoprotective. This study aims to evaluate the therapeutic effects of PZQ and QUER isolated and/or associated in schistosomiasis in in vitro experimental models. Methodology: Twenty male Swiss mice from the vivarium of the Aggeu Magalhães Institution, 28 days old, were kept under a controlled cycle (12h light/12h dark) with diet and water ad libitum. The animals were infected by 125 cercariae/mL (per individual) of S. mansoni of the LE strain from the Reference Service in Schistosomiasis of the IAM. The adult worms were removed through cardiac perfusion, after 45 days, then maintained under RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with antibiotics. Subsequently, the plates were incubated at 37°C for 2 hours in an oven at 5% CO2 for adaptation, being monitored every 24 hours and observed under an inverted optical microscope. The groups were divided into: I) DMSO (negative control; 0.5 µg/mL); II) PZQ (positive control; 0.5 µg/mL); III) QUER (15µg/mL); IV) PZQ+QUER (0.5 µg/mL +15 µg/mL), different concentrations were tested, totaling a final volume of 2mL. This work was evaluated and approved by CEUA / IAM, under protocol number: 159/2020. Results: Groups III and IV showed 100% worm mortality in 24h; total absence of motor activity (score 0) and marked tegumentary damage. Conclusion: Quercetin showed promising schistosomicidal activity against adult worms of S. mansoni, due to its direct action on the pathogen alone and/or associated with praziquantel.