Caenorhabditis elegans as a model for testing novel anthelmintic compounds isolated from plant extracts

CASTRO, M.J.; BERGÉ, I.; FARAONI, M.B.; BOUZAT, C.

Congreso; LXI Reunión Anual Soc Arg Inv Clínica (SAIC), LXIV Reunión Anual Soc Arg Inmunología (SAI), XLVIII Reunión Anual Soc Arg Farmacol Exp (SAFE), VII Reunión Anual Soc Arg Nanomedicina (NANOMEDar) y V Congreso Asoc Arg Ciencia y Tecnología de Animales de Lab; 2016

The main objective of this work is the identification and isolation of bioactive secondary metabolites from essential oil and plant extract, which are selected for their anthelmintic properties in traditional medicine. To evaluate the nematicidal activity we used the free-living nematode of Caernorhabditis elegans. In our continuing search of new anthelmintic agents, we perform behavioral tests (paralysis and locomotion assays) on worms to verify  the rapid effect of the compounds under study. It is expected that compounds that act by altering the function of receptors or proteins involved in muscle function have rapid action on the parasite. In this project we focus on extracts showing activity within two hours of exposure in order to detect compounds that act primarily on ligand-gated ion channels involved in muscle function and locomotion.The ethanolic extract obtained from the elaves of Diplotaxis tenuifolia, Eurca sativa and Thelesperma megapotamicum were selected to carry out a chemcial study. This led us to the identification of active fractions that produce rapid paralysis of C. elegans, from which the identification and purification of the active compounds is being carried out. To identify sites of action of the compounds we test their effects on mutant strains lacking  receptors involved in locomotion, some of which are targets of the currantly used anthelmintics or we will perfomr random mutagenesis followed by gene screening. Our final aim is to contribute to the development of novel anthelmintic agents.