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The anthelmintic efficacy of papaya latex in a rodent–nematode model is not dependent on fasting before treatment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 July 2011

W. Luoga
Affiliation:
School of Biology, University of Nottingham, University Park, NottinghamNG7 2RD, UK Department of Life Sciences, Mkwawa University College of Education, Iringa, Tanzania
F. Mansur
Affiliation:
School of Biology, University of Nottingham, University Park, NottinghamNG7 2RD, UK Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Islamic Science University of Malaysia (USIM), Tingkat 13, Menara B, Persiaran MPAJ, Jalan Pandan Utama, 55100Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
D.J. Buttle
Affiliation:
Department of Infection and Immunity, University of Sheffield Medical School, Beech Hill Road, SheffieldS10 2RX, UK
I.R. Duce
Affiliation:
School of Biology, University of Nottingham, University Park, NottinghamNG7 2RD, UK
M.C. Garnett
Affiliation:
School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, University Park, NottinghamNG7 2RD, UK
J.M. Behnke*
Affiliation:
School of Biology, University of Nottingham, University Park, NottinghamNG7 2RD, UK
*
*Fax: +44 115 951 3251 E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

In earlier studies of the anthelmintic activity of plant cysteine proteinases (CPs), a period of food deprivation was routinely employed before administration of CPs, but there has been no systematic evaluation as to whether this does actually benefit the anthelmintic efficacy. Therefore, we assessed the effect of fasting on the efficacy of CPs from papaya latex (PL) against Heligmosomoides bakeri in C3H mice. We used a refined, supernatant extract of papaya latex (PLS) with known active enzyme content. The animals were divided into three groups (fasted prior to treatment with PLS, not fasted but treated with PLS and fasted but given only water). The study demonstrated clearly that although food deprivation had been routinely employed in much of the earlier work on CPs in mice infected with nematodes, fasting has no beneficial effect on the efficacy of PLS against H. bakeri infections. Administration of CPs to fed animals will also reduce the stress associated with fasting.

Type
Research Papers
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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