A Review of Quercus infectoria (Olivier) Galls as a Resource for Anti-parasitic Agents: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies

Abstract

Parasitic diseases represent one of the causes for significant global economic, environmental and public health impacts. The efficacy of currently available anti-parasitic drugs has been threatened by the emergence of single drug- or multidrug-resistant parasite populations, vector threats and high cost of drug development. Therefore, the discovery of more potent anti-parasitic drugs coming from medicinal plants such as Quercus infectoria is seen as a major approach to tackle the problem. A systematic review was conducted to assess the efficacy of Q. infectoria in treating parasitic diseases both in vitro and in vivo due to the lack of such reviews on the anti-parasitic activities of this plant. This review consisted of intensive searches from three databases including PubMed, Science Direct and Scopus. Articles were selected throughout the years, limited to English language and fully documented. A total of 454 potential articles were identified, but only four articles were accepted to be evaluated based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Although there were insufficient pieces of evidence to account for the efficacy of Q. infectoria against the parasites, this plant appears to have anti-leishmanial, anti-blastocystis and anti-amoebic activities. More studies in vitro and in vivo are warranted to further validate the anti-parasitic efficacy of Q. infectoria.

The acetone crude extract of Quercus infectoria (Olivier) galls alters pH of the digestive vacuole of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum

“…To date, neither studies of the antimalarial activity nor the mechanism of the Q. infectoria galls are evident in the literature (Nik Mat Zin et al, 2019). In this work, the evidence of the antimalarial effect of the acetone crude extract on pH of the malaria parasite's digestive vacuole was provided.…”

“…Quercus infectoria (Olivier) (Fagaceae) is one of the medicinal plants traditionally used in folk medicines for post-partum medication and various ailments (Umachigi et al, 2008;Vuthikunchai & Suwalak, 2008;Aroonrerk & Kamkaen, 2009;Jamal et al, 2011). The galls of the plant have a broad spectrum of antimicrobial properties (Hussein et al, 2000;Sawangjaroen et al, 2004;Sawangjaroen & Sawangjaroen, 2005;Ozbilgin et al, 2013;Baharuddin et al, 2014;Kheirandish et al, 2016;Mustafa et al, 2018;Nik Mat Zin et al, 2019). Our recent finding reported that the gall acetone crude extract possesses a promising antimalarial activity in vitro (IC 50 = 5.85 ± 1.90 μg/mL) against the chloroquine-sensitive strain (3D7) of P. falciparum (Nik Mat Zin et al, 2020).…”

Triose Phosphate Isomerase Structure-Based Virtual Screening and In Vitro Biological Activity of Natural Products as Leishmania mexicana Inhibitors

“…On the other hand, secondary metabolites from natural products have been considered as an option to develop new drugs against Leishmania infections [ 15 , 16 ]. In recent years, significant progress has been made in mitigating the threat of Leishmania parasites.…”

“…Based on the above points, the dimer interface of LmTIM (Figure 1) has been highlighted as a site of interest in discovering specific compounds that inhibit its function by disrupting its interface. On the other hand, secondary metabolites from natural products have been considered as an option to develop new drugs against Leishmania infections [15,16]. In recent years, significant progress has been made in mitigating the threat of Leishmania parasites.…”

Ellagic Acid Induces in vitro Alkalinisation of the Digestive Vacuole in Drug-Sensitive Plasmodium falciparum Strain

“…This compound has been reported to have a number of biological activities such as anticarcinogenic ( 13 ), anti-inflammatory ( 14 ) and antimalarial properties ( 15 – 17 ). The abundance of pyrogallol ( 18 – 20 ) and ellagic acid ( 21 – 23 ) in Quercus infectoria , an oak species, might contribute to the activity against the malaria parasite ( 24 – 25 ). Ellagic acid has been postulated to have the antimalarial effect through impairment of the haemoglobin degradation and β-haematin formation in the parasite’s digestive vacuole ( 15 – 16 , 26 ).…”