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. 2017 Apr 3:59:e7.
doi: 10.1590/S1678-9946201759007.

In vitro efficacy of latex and purified papain from Carica papaya against Strongyloides venezuelensis eggs and larvae

Dayane Moraes  1 , Marcelo Arantes Levenhagen  2 , Julia Maria Costa-Cruz  2 , Antônio Paulino da Costa Netto  3 , Rosângela Maria Rodrigues  1
Affiliations

In vitro efficacy of latex and purified papain from Carica papaya against Strongyloides venezuelensis eggs and larvae

Dayane Moraes et al. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo. .

Abstract

Latex from Carica papaya is rich in bioactive compounds, especially papain, which may help to control parasitic diseases. This study evaluated the efficacy of latex from C. papaya and purified papain against Strongyloides venezuelensis. The Egg Hatching Test (EHT) and the Larval Motility Test (LMT) using fresh and frozen latex (250mg/mL), lyophilized latex (34mg/mL), and purified papain (2.8 mg/mL) were performed. Albendazole (0.025 mg/mL) and ivermectin (316 ppm) were used as positive controls. EHT and LMT were carried out through the incubation of each solution with S. venezuelensis eggs or larvae (± 100 specimens), and results were analyzed after 48h (EHT) or 24, 48, and 72h (LMT). EHT showed that latex preparations at higher concentrations (1:10 to 1:100) resulted in partial or complete destruction of eggs and larvae inside the eggs. The result from the 1:1,000 dilution was similar to the positive control. LMT showed effectiveness in all the tested dilutions compared to negative controls. Purified papain showed a dose-dependent response in the EHT. Purified papain (2.8 mg/ mL) showed similar results to lyophilized latex at 1:1,000 in the EHT. Latex and purified papain from C. papaya were effective against S. venezuelensis eggs and larvae in vitro, suggesting their potential use as an alternative treatment for strongyloidiasis.

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Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICT OF INTEREST The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Morphological changes in Strongyloides venezuelensis eggs after treatment with lyophilized latex from (a) Carica papaya at 1:1,000 and (b and c) purified papain at 2.8 mg/mL. Positive control: (d) Albendazole (0.025 mg/mL). Negative controls: (e) PBS and (f) water.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Dose-dependent response of purified papain from Carica papaya on Inhibition of Egg Hatching (IEH) of Strongyloides venezuelensis. Results are presented as mean values ± standard error.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Dose-dependent response of different dilutions of purified papain from Carica papaya on Inhibition of Larval Motility (ILM) in Strongyloides venezuelensis. Results are presented as mean values ± standard error.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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