In vitro studies on the effect of methanolic extract of Elytraria acaulis on the glucose metabolism of Cotylophoron cotylophorum

Abstract

Introduction: In the present study, the in vitro effect of methanolic extract of leaves of E. acaulis (EaME) on the key enzymes, namely pyruvate kinase (PK), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) of Cotylophoron cotylophorum have been investigated. Furthermore, the EaME was subjected to preliminary structural analysis using gas GC-MS. Materials and Methods: Adult live C. cotylophorum was collected from the rumen of slaughtered sheep and maintained in Hedon-Fleig solution. The flukes were incubated in five different sub-lethal concentrations of EaME for 2, 4, and 8 h. Control flukes without the plant extract were also maintained simultaneously. The enzymes were assayed in the sample following the standard protocols and were expressed as n moles mg protein−1. The effect of plant extract on the enzyme activity was calculated as percentage inhibition or acceleration. The structural elucidation of components of EaME was done using a quadrupole mass spectrometer and electron ionization method. Results: EaME significantly inhibited the PEPCK and PK activities of C. cotylophorum, and the inhibition was dose- and time-dependent. Interestingly, EaME accelerated the LDH activity catalyzing the reduction of pyruvate. The GC-MS analysis of EaME showed the presence of seven major compounds. Conclusion: The present study clearly revealed that the anthelmintic potential of Elytraria acaulis in impeding the energy-generating mechanism of C. cotylophoroum and hence, could be a potential source of natural anthelmintic.