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Volume 3, Issue 4 (Suppl)
Polym Sci
ISSN: 2471-9935 Polym Sci, an open access journal
October 12-13, 2017 Osaka, Japan
Annual Meeting on
Biopolymers and Drug Delivery Systems
Biopolymers Meeting 2017
October 12-13 2017
Page 71
Evaluation of therapeutic potential of folk plants extracts against Acanthamoeba
in vitro
Abdul Matin, Hafiz Muhammad Sohaib and Salik Nawaz
1Majmaah University, KSA
2International Islamic University, Pakistan
3University of the Punjab, Pakistan
Statement of the Problem:
Acanthamoeba is an opportunistic protozoan pathogen and one of the most prevalent organisms in our
natural environment (i.e., air, soil and water). It is recognized to cause fatal brain infection (
Granulomatous encephalitis
) and eye
infection (blinding keratitis). Treatments for both infections are problematic because of the amoebic cysts resistance to therapeutic
agents. That is why there is no effective anti-amoebic drug available to date. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate in vitro
strength of plants extracts on the viability and biological properties of
Acanthamoeba castellanii
(T4 genotype) and its cytotoxic effects
on human corneal epithelial cells (HCEC).
Methodology & Theoretical Orientation:
Using HCEC, adhesion, cytotoxicity and amoebicidal, amoebic growth assays were
performed.
Findings:
Normally, Acanthamoeba exhibited >90% binding and >80% cytotoxicity to HCEC cells which was remarkably inhibited by
plant extracts to >70 and 60% respectively. It was also observed that extracts (ranging from 0.1 to 1.5 mg/ml) exhibited amoebicidal
effects, i.e., >50% of trophozoites were killed at 1.5 mg/ml within 1 hour. However, the residual amoeba remained static for quite some
time. Furthermore, extracts also inhibited >50% amoeba numbers up to 7 days during growth assay. Furthermore, plant extracts (1
to 30 mg/ml) exhibited amoebicidal effects against Acanthamoeba cysts. Furthermore, Acanthamoeba encystment was also inhibited
in concentration dependent manner with maximum inhibition at 2 µg/ml after 48 hours. Among all Peganum harmala seed extracts
showed optimal activity against amoeba. Our results confirmed that extracts have toxic effects against both cysts and trophozoite.
Conclusion & Significance:
Overall, we reported for the first time that selected plant extracts exhibited inhibitory effects on biological
properties of Acanthamoeba without any toxic effects on HCEC cells in vitro.
Recommendations:
Further experiments are required with purified fractions of plant extracts to identify the active ingredients
and to elucidate the mechanism of action of the effective compounds both in vitro and in vivo which may provide a new series of
chemotherapeutic agents.
amawan@live.co.ukPolym Sci 2017, 3:4
DOI: 10.4172/2471-9935-C1-006