Preliminary study on induction of apoptosis by curcumin in Schistosoma mansoni adult worms

• Grant number: 12/22041-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2013
• End date: December 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Parasitology - Helminthology of Parasites
• Principal Investigator: Lizandra Guidi Magalhães
• Grantee: Daniela de Paula Aguiar
• Host Institution: Coordenadoria Adjunta de Graduação. Universidade de Franca (UNIFRAN). Franca , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Schistosomiasis is a serious public health problem in many developing countries. Numerous reports show the increasing emergence of strains of Schistosoma mansoni resistant to praziquantel, the drug of choice for the treatment of schistosomiasis. Previous studies have shown that curcumin, which is a phenolic compound extracted from the rhizome of Curcuma longa plant has expressive activity both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, studies with other organisms have shown curcumin is a potent apoptotic agent. Thus, this study aims to investigate the ability of curcumin to induce apoptosis in adult worms of Schistosoma mansoni. For this purpose, it will evaluate the effect of the compound on the viability of the parasites to determine the lethal dose that kills 50% of parasites and through molecular and biochemical techniques are analyzed fragmentation of DNA, the expression genes for caspase 3 and 7, and the activity of specific caspases 3 and 7 in S. mansoni adult worms after incubation with curcumin.(AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

AGUIAR, DANIELA DE PAULA; MOREIRA MOSCARDINI, MAYARA BRUNETTO; MORAIS, ENYARA REZENDE; DE PAULA, RENATO GRACIANO; FERREIRA, PEDRO MANUEL; AFONSO, ANA; BELO, SILVANA; OUCHIDA, AMANDA TOMIE; CURTI, CARLOS; CUNHA, WILSON ROBERTO; et al. Curcumin Generates Oxidative Stress and Induces Apoptosis in Adult Schistosoma mansoni Worms. PLoS One, v. 11, n. 11, NOV 22 2016. (14/26116-8, 12/22041-8, 13/11164-4)