Nematicidal Characterization of Solanum nigrum and Mentha arvensis Leaf Extracts Using Caenorhabditis elegans as a Model Organism

Abstract

Considering foremost global issues instigated by parasitic nematodes, Solanum nigrum (S. nigrum) and Mentha arvensis (M. arvensis) nematicidal potential at the gene level has been explored herein. Methanol, ethyl acetate, chloroform, n-hexane, and distilled water were used for extract preparation. Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) was used as the model organism. Nematicidal and anti-egg hatching assays, fluorescence microscopy, and quantitative real-time PCR were done. S. nigrum chloroform (LD 50 = 1.21 mg/mL) and M. arvensis methanol (LD 50 = 2.47 mg/mL) extracts exhibited excellent nematicidal potential. Both plants showed potent anti-egg hatching activity (1 mg/mL). S. nigrum methanol and M. arvensis ethyl acetate extracts showed high apoptotic effect in muscles, gonads, and uterus (eggs). Stress genes, that is, gst-4, hsp-16.2, and gpdh-1 were highly expressed in affected C. elegans (treated with S. nigrum and M. arvensis leaf extracts) when compared with normal C. elegans. Phytochemicals and bioactive compounds present in plants may be the major cause of their excellent nematicidal potential, which further confirmed that both plants could be an alternative candidate(s) for novel broad-scale anthelmintic drug(s).

Nematicidal Characterization of Newly Synthesized Thiazine Derivatives Using Caenorhabditis elegans as the Model Organism

“…Khan et al also screened out the expression of stress genes in transgenic C. elegans affected by plant extracts and then confirmed through quantitative qRT-PCR .…”

“…Khan et al 39 also screened out the expression of stress genes in transgenic C. elegans affected by plant extracts and then confirmed through quantitative qRT-PCR. 39 In the reference of the above study, it was confirmed that compounds 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 14, and 15 are the most potent compounds and expressed more genes as shown in Figure 6 . This technique shows that thiazine derivatives expressed stress response genes (genes involved in stress).…”

In vitro and in vivo anthelmintic efficacy of peppermint (Mentha x piperita L.) essential oil against gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep

“…The same study also showed that menthol can significantly potentiate the contraction of Ascaris suum somatic muscle strips at each concentration of acetylcholine. A study by Khan et al (69) showed that methanol and the extract of M. arvensis cause high apoptotic effect in the muscles, gonads, and uterus (eggs) of the freeliving nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, which was used as a model organism. The results also showed that stress genes (gst-4 and hsp-16.2) were highly expressed in the affected nematodes compared to normal C. elegans.…”

Nanocomposites in agriculture as pesticides for plant protection: a review

“…A study conducted by El-Tekreti et al [99] reported the nematicidal activity of NCs based on Al 2 O 3 -NPs, SiO 2 -NPs and ZnO-NPs against root-knot nematodes on cucumber plants by inhibiting egg hatching and reducing the number of second instars. Chitosan-silver doped titanium dioxide NCs (Cs-AgTiO 2 ) showed excellent nematicidal potential against Caenorhabditis elegans [100]. Tryfon et al [101] demonstrated Cu-doped ZnO NPs as a promising tool to control M. javanica on lettuce plants by reducing galling and population and increasing antioxidant capacity and phenolic compounds.…”