Metabolic profiling and in vitro assessment of anthelmintic fractions of Picria fel-terrae Lour
- Authors: Kumarasingha, Rasika , Karpe, Avinash , Preston, Sarah , Yeo, Tiong-Chia , Lim, Diana , Tu, Chu-Lee , Luu, Jennii , Simpson, Kaylene , Shaw, Jillian , Gasser, Robin , Beale, David , Morrison, Paul , Palombo, Enzo , Boag, Peter
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal for Parasitology: Drugs and Drug Resistance Vol. 6, no. 3 (2016), p. 171-178
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- Description: Anthelmintic resistance is widespread in gastrointestinal nematode populations, such that there is a consistent need to search for new anthelmintics. However, the cost of screening for new compounds is high and has a very low success rate. Using the knowledge of traditional healers from Borneo Rainforests (Sarawak, Malaysia), we have previously shown that some traditional medicinal plants are a rich source of potential new anthelmintic drug candidates. In this study, Picria fel-terrae Lour. plant extract, which has previously shown promising anthelmintic activities, was fractionated via the use of a solid phase extraction cartridge and each isolated fraction was then tested on free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and the parasitic nematode Haemonchus contortus. We found that a single fraction was enriched for nematocidal activity, killing ≥90% of C. elegans adults and inhibiting the motility of exsheathed L3 of H. contortus, while having minimal cytotoxic activity in mammalian cell culture. Metabolic profiling and chemometric analysis of the effective fraction indicated medium chained fatty acids and phenolic acids were highly represented. Image 1 •Chemical fractionation of Picria fel-terrae Lour. plant extract.•Anthelmintic activity against Caenorhabditis elegans and Haemonchus contortus.•Metabolic profiling and chemometric analysis of active fraction.•Active fraction has minimal mammalian cytotoxicity.
Trace metal biomonitoring in the east Gippsland Lakes estuary using the barnacle amphibalanus variegatus and mussel mytilus edulis
- Authors: Willems, Daniel , Reeves, Jessica , Morrison, Paul , Trestrail, Charlene , Nugegoda, Dayanthi
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Environmental Science and Pollution Research Vol. 27, no. 3 (2020), p. 3361-3383
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- Description: The Gippsland Lakes estuary, a Ramsar listed wetland, in Victoria, Australia, is an area of potential concern for metal pollution due to influxes of human population and associated anthropogenic activities. A biomonitoring exercise was undertaken where the concentrations of 9 metals (Cr, Fe, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Ag, Cd and Hg) were analysed in the soft tissue of two common sessile invertebrates: the mussel Mytilus edulis and the barnacle Amphibalanus variegatus from 6 locations on two different occasions throughout the Gippsland Lakes estuary. A salinity gradient exists in the Lakes, from seawater at Lakes Entrance in the east, decreasing down to < 10 PSU in the west at Lake Wellington during times of rainfall, which is a major factor governing the growth and distribution of both species. Dissolved metal levels in general were low; however, Cu at most sites exceeded the 90% trigger values, while all Zn concentrations exceeded the lowest 80% trigger values of the ANZECC marine water quality guidelines for environmental health. Elevated levels of Cu and Zn were found particularly in barnacles at some sites with environmental contamination due to leaching from anti fouling paints and sacrificial zinc anodes. Elevated levels of Ag and Cd were found in mussels at the Hollands Landing site, which is immediately adjacent to a boat ramp, and Cd and Ag at this site are suspected to originate from inland anthropogenic sources. Concentrations of As in M. edulis across all 6 sites in both sampling periods had mean wet weight As concentrations exceeding the maximum level stated in the FSANZ guidelines. A. variegatus contained elevated levels of Hg especially at the North Arm site with a maximum of 13.6 μg Hg/g dry wt., while A. variegatus also showed temporal changes in Hg concentrations across sites. The maximum Hg concentration found in Mytilus edulis was 1.49 μg Hg/g dry wt. at the Hollands Landing site. Previous contaminant studies of biota in the Lakes have targeted sampling of singular predatory or migratory species, such as Black Bream (Acanthopagrus butcheri) and the Burrunan dolphin (Tursiops australis). This is the first biomonitoring study conducted on sessile organisms to assess metal contamination in the system. © 2019, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.