Bio-Guided Fractionation and Molecular Networking Reveal Fatty Acids to Be Principal Anti-Parasitic Compounds in Nordic Seaweeds

Abstract

Widespread use of antimicrobial drugs has led to high levels of drug-resistance in pathogen populations and a need for novel sources of anti-bacterial and anti-parasitic compounds. Macroalgae (seaweed) are potentially a rich source of bioactive compounds, and several species have traditionally been used as vermifuges. Here, we investigated the anti-parasitic properties of four common cold-water Nordic seaweeds; Palmaria palmata (Rhodophyta), Laminaria digitata, Saccharina latissima and Ascophyllum nodosum (Ochrophyta, Phaeophyceae). Screening of organic extracts against helminths of swine (Ascaris suum) and sheep (Teladorsagia circumcincta) revealed that S. latissima and L. digitata had particularly high biological activity. A combination of molecular networking and bio-guided fractionation led to the isolation of six compounds from extracts of these two species identified in both fermented and non-fermented samples. The six isolated compounds were tentatively identified by using MS-FINDER as five fatty acids and one monoglyceride: Stearidonic acid (1), Eicosapentaenoic acid (2), Alpha-Linolenic acid (3), Docosahexaenoic acid (4), Arachidonic acid (5), and Monoacylglycerol (MG 20:5) (6). Individual compounds showed only modest activity against A. suum, but a clear synergistic effect was apparent when selected compounds were tested in combination. Collectively, our data reveal that fatty acids may have a previously unappreciated role as natural anti-parasitic compounds, which suggests that seaweed products may represent a viable option for control of intestinal helminth infections.

Bioprospection of the trichomonacidal activity of lipid extracts derived from marine macroalgae Gigartina skottsbergii

“…Bonde et al . (2021) [ 32 ] for example, demonstrated the parasitic development inhibition effect of the extracts derived from the seaweed from the cold waters of the Nordic region. In addition, the presence of fatty acids, including stearidonic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, arachidonic acid, and eicosapentaenoic acid, was demonstrated to promote anthelmintic activity.…”

Antimicrobial, Antivirulence, and Antiparasitic Potential of Capsicum chinense Jacq. Extracts and Their Isolated Compound Capsaicin

“…Still concerning the chemical composition of C. chinense peel and seeds, they contain several fatty acids that have great antifungal potential, including activity against Candida spp. [ 66 , 67 ]. Moreover, the antiparasitic potential of fatty acids has also been evidenced [ 68 ].…”

Anti-protozoal activity and metabolomic analyses of Cichorium intybus L. against Trypanosoma cruzi

“…Besides SL, molecular networking analyses predicted significantly high bioactivity scores for flavonoid and fatty acid derivatives. Natural flavonoids have been extensively described to induce anti-protozoal activity against several trypanosomatid parasites ( Cockram and Smith, 2018 ; Izumi et al, 2011 ), whereas fatty acids were recently suggested to be involved in the anti-parasitic activity of seaweeds ( Bonde et al, 2021 ). Furthermore, in the present study the various not annotated compounds with high bioactivity scores likely contributed to the activity of the tested purified extracts, either as single compounds or in combination with other metabolites.…”