Antiparasitic potential of Nephrolepis biserrata methanol extract against the parasitic leech Zeylanicobdella arugamensis (Hirudinea) and LC-QTOF analysis

Abstract

Marine leech Zeylanicobdella arugamensis (Piscicolidae), an economically important parasite is infesting predominantly cultured groupers, hybrid groupers and other fish in Southeast Asian countries. In this study, we tested the anti-parasitic potential of a medicinal plant Nephrolepis biserrata found in Sabah, East Malaysia against Z. arugamensis. Various concentrations of methanol extracts of the plant were tested experimentally against Z. arugamensis and disinfestation of the leech from its primary host hybrid groupers. The composition of methanol extract of N. biserrata was determined through LC-QTOF analysis. The significant anti-parasitic activity of 100% mortality of leeches was observed with the exposure of N. biserrata extracts. The average time to kill the leeches at concentrations of 25, 50 and 100 mg/ml was 25.11 ± 3.26, 11.91 ± 0.99, and 4.88 ± 0.50 min., respectively. Further, at various low concentrations of N. biserrata 2.5, 5 and 10 mg/ml, hybrid groupers were disinfested in an average time of 108.33 ± 12.65, 65.83 ± 9.70 and 29.16 ± 5.85 min., respectively. The tandem mass spectrometry data from LC-QTOF indicated some hits on useful bioactive compounds such as terpenoids (ivalin, isovelleral, brassinolide, and eschscholtzxanthin), flavonoids (alnustin, kaempferol 7,4′-dimethyl ether, and pachypodol), phenolics (piscidic acid, chlorogenic acid, and ankorine), and aromatic (3-hydroxycoumarin). Thus N. biserrata can act as a potential biocontrol agent.

Chemical cues for intraspecific chemical communication and interspecific interactions in aquatic environments: applications for fisheries and aquaculture

“…Defensive molecules of marine animals and bioactive molecules, including marine toxins, are candidates for antifouling and antiparasitic agents. Extracts of the plant Nephrolepis biserrata have antiparasitic activity against the marine leech Zeylanicobdella arugamensis, an economically important parasite that infests cultured groupers (Shah et al 2020). In addition to the current library of primary and secondary metabolites, more natural products should be identified.…”

Population Genetic Structure of Marine Leech, Pterobdella arugamensis in Indo-West Pacific Region

“…Therefore, strict screening for P. arugamensis on imported hybrid groupers upon arrival in the country would control and mitigate its prevalence and infestation rate as P. arugamensis might be unintentionally dispersed by the host, and once the host has undergone quarantine and thorough check up, there will be a reduction in the spread of marine leeches in the aquaculture system. Furthermore, developing safe biocontrol agents to mitigate the infestation rate of marine leeches using plants might also help the aquaculture system [ 49 , 50 , 51 ].…”

Efficacy of the Aqueous Extract of Azadirachta indica Against the Marine Parasitic Leech and Its Phytochemical Profiling

“…However, our treatment using the aqueous extract of A. indica took less time than D. suffruticosa to kill all the leeches. Further, the exposure of the methanol extract and chromatographic fraction (fraction 3) of Nephrolepis biserrata (Nephrolepidaceae, perennial fern) was applied against Z. arugamensis at a concentration of 100 and 2.5 mg/mL and killed all the leeches in 4.88 and 1.92 min, respectively [33,34]. Similarly, the methanol extracts of Allium sativum (Amaryllidaceae, garlic) (600 µg/mL) were tested against the aquatic leech Limnatis nilotica (Hirudinidae) and took 144.55 min for total mortality [35].…”