Cleome droserifolia tem atividade anti-esquistossomose mansônica?

The present study was undertaken to assess the effect of the crude extract of Cleome droserifolia (CD) leaves on experimentally infected mice with Schistosoma mansoni. Two groups of mice, showing a patent infection of S. mansoni, one of them was daily treated with an alcoholic extract of CD leaves (0.31 g kg-1 body weight, i.p.) for 21 days. The schistosomicidal activity of the CD extract was evaluated, three weeks post-treatment, on some parasitological and histopathological aspects including worm load, oogram pattern, faecal eggs releasing and granuloma formation. In addition, serum thyroid hormones levels (tri-iodothyronine; T3 and tetra-iodo-thyronin; T4), serum total protein contents and hepatic reduced glutathione (GSH) were evaluated. Treatment using CD extract resulted in a weak reduction in worm burden (32.46%) and affected the viability of both mature and immature eggs as indicated by the increase in the percentage of dead eggs and the decrease in the percentage of live ones. In addition, a week post-treatment, eggs elimination was observed in the stool of the infected-treated group which was low compared to the infected group. There was a suppressive effect of the extract on granuloma formation that could be due to the antioxidant effect of the extract. These data are confirmed by increasing hepatic GSH, serum total proteins and thyroid hormone levels in the infected-treated group as compared to the infected group. Treatment significantly enhanced b globulin fractions of the protein. Based on these assumptions, CD extract has beneficial effects on thyroid hormones status and anti-schistosomiasis activity. The beneficial effects of CD extract could be related to its direct effects on the parasite, and secondary to its effect on the antioxidant capacity of the host. The present study could emphasize the precise mechanism (s) of CD extract protection.O presente estudo foi realizado para verificar o efeito do extrato cru de folhas de Cleome droserifolia (CD) em camundongos experimentalmente infectados com Schistosoma mansoni. Em dois grupos de camundongos mostrando infecção patente por S. mansoni, um deles foi tratado diariamente com extrato alcoólico de folhas de CD (0.31g kg-1 por peso corporal, i.p.) por 21 dias. A atividade esquistossomicida do extrato de CD foi avaliada, três semanas após o tratamento, em alguns aspectos parasitológicos e histopatológicos incluindo carga parasitária, padrão de oograma, eliminação fecal de ovos e formação de granuloma. Além disto, níveis séricos de hormônio tireoideano (tri-iodotironina: T3 e tetra-iodotironina: T4), conteúdo sérico total de proteínas e glutatione hepático reduzido (GSH) foram avaliados. Tratamento usando extrato de CD resultou em fraca redução da carga de vermes (32,46%) e afetou a viabilidade de ovos maduros ou não, como indicado pelo aumento na porcentagem de ovos mortos e o descrécimo na porcentagem de ovos viáveis. Além disso, uma semana após o tratamento, a eliminação de ovos foi observada nas fezes do grupo infectado-tratado que foi baixa comparada ao grupo infectado. Houve efeito supressivo do extrato sobre a formação de granuloma que poderia ser devido ao efeito antioxidante do extrato. Estes dados são confirmados pelo aumento do GSH hepático, soro total de proteínas e níveis dos hormônios tireoideanos no grupo infecto-tratado quando comparado com o grupo infectado. O tratamento aumentou significativamente as frações beta-globulina da proteína. Baseado nestas afirmativas o extrato de CD tem efeitos benéficos sobre o nível dos hormônios tireoideanos e da atividade anti-esquistossomica. Os efeitos benéficos do extrato de CD poderiam estar relacionados com seu efeito direto sobre o parasita, e secundariamente por seus efeitos na capacidade anti-oxidante do hospedeiro. O presente trabalho poderia enfatizar o(s) mecanismo(s) preciso(s) desta proteção do extrato de CD

Consequences of artificial light at night on behavior, reproduction, and development of Lymnaea stagnalis

Light is an important zeitgeber that regulates many behavioral and physiological processes in animals. These processes may become disturbed due to the changes in natural patterns of light and dark via the introduction of artificial light at night (ALAN). The present study was designed to determine the effect of possible consequences of ALAN on reproduction, hatching success, developmental success, growth rate, feeding rate, mortality rate, and locomotor activity of the simultaneous hermaphrodite pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis. Snails were exposed to different light intensities at night that simulate actual ALAN measurements from the snail's night environment. The data revealed that exposure to ALAN at a low level significantly affected the cumulative number of laid eggs. At the same time, snails exposed to ALAN laid smaller eggs than those laid under normal light-dark cycles. Additionally, high light-intensity of ALAN delayed development and hatching of eggs of L. stagnalis while it showed no effect on hatching percentage. Furthermore, ALAN increased both the feeding and growth rates but did not lead to mortality. The results also show that snails exposed to dark conditions at night travel longer distances and do so faster than those exposed to ALAN. In light of these findings, it is clear that ALAN may have an influence on snails and their abundance in an environment, possibly disturbing ecological stability

Slowly seeing the light:an integrative review on ecological light pollution as a potential threat for mollusks

Seasonal changes in the natural light condition play a pivotal role in the regulation of many biological processes in organisms. Disruption of this natural condition via the growing loss of darkness as a result of anthropogenic light pollution has been linked to species-wide shifts in behavioral and physiological traits. This review starts with a brief overview of the definition of light pollution and the most recent insights into the perception of light. We then go on to review the evidence for some adverse effects of ecological light pollution on different groups of animals and will focus on mollusks. Taken together, the available evidence suggests a critical role for light pollution as a recent, growing threat to the regulation of various biological processes in these animals, with the potential to disrupt ecosystem stability. The latter indicates that ecological light pollution is an environmental threat that needs to be taken seriously and requires further research attention