Differential Effects of Two Widely Used Solvents, DMSO and Ethanol, on the Growth and Recovery of Trypanosoma cruzi Epimastigotes in Culture

Abstract

Trypanosoma cruzi is the etiological agent of Chagas disease. Epimastigote forms of T. cruzi can be readily cultured in axenic conditions. Ethanol and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) are commonly used solvents employed as vehicles for hydrophobic compounds. In order to produce a reference plot of solvent dependent growth inhibition for T. cruzi research, the growth of epimastigotes was analyzed in the presence of different concentrations of ethanol (0.1–4.0%) and DMSO (0.5–7.5%). The ability of the parasites to resume growth after removal of these solvents was also examined. As expected, both ethanol and DMSO produced a dose-dependent inhibition of cellular growth. Parasites could recover normal growth after 9 days in up to 2% ethanol or 5% DMSO. Since DMSO was better tolerated than ethanol, it is thus recommended to prefer DMSO over ethanol in the case of a similar solubility of a given compound.

Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activity of extracts and major constituents derived from Stachytarpheta indica Linn. leaves and their potential implications for wound healing

“…Further, all extracts were resuspended in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) prior to testing. Although DMSO is a highly polar and stable substance which can be used to re-solubilise dried extracts, given its known bactericidal effects [62][63][64], the addition of DMSO to the plant extracts would clearly distort and misrepresent the actual antibacterial potency of the plant.…”

In vitro effects of tropisetron and granisetron against Echinococcus granulosus (s.s.) protoscoleces by involvement of calcineurin and calmodulin

“…: 30024, Sigma-Aldrich USA) and ricobendazole (ABZSO) (CAS no: 54029-12-8, Product no: 19953; Sigma-Aldrich China) were first dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)(CAS no. : D8779, Product no: 67-68-5, Sigma-Aldrich USA) at an amount of < 0.3%, which has no deleterious effect on the parasite [ 26 ], and then diluted in the culture medium. Treatment of the PSC was initiated 1 day after initiation of in vitro culture.…”

Enhanced elevations of hypo-osmotic shock-induced cytosolic and nucleic calcium concentrations in tobacco cells by pretreatment with dimethyl sulfoxide

“…Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is a dipolar aprotic solvent that can solubilize a variety of polar and nonpolar molecules [1]. As a powerful solvent, DMSO has widely been used for biological applications, particularly for pharmacological researches [2]. In biological assays, numerous chemicals with low water solubility need to be dissolved in organic solvents prior to addition to living systems [2].…”

“…As a powerful solvent, DMSO has widely been used for biological applications, particularly for pharmacological researches [2]. In biological assays, numerous chemicals with low water solubility need to be dissolved in organic solvents prior to addition to living systems [2]. The unique characteristic of DMSO is that it permeates into living cells without causing significant damage, thus, making DMSO as one of the most used solvents [3].…”

“…The unique characteristic of DMSO is that it permeates into living cells without causing significant damage, thus, making DMSO as one of the most used solvents [3]. However, recent studies started to unveil a series of hidden and unexpected actions of DMSO such as removal of hydroxyl radical at high concentration [4], and cyto-toxicity at relatively low concentration in several biological models [1,2], including plants [5], possibly due to the nature of DMSO to be readily associated with water, proteins, carbonhydrates, nucleic acid, ionic substances and other constituents in living systems [3].…”