TY - JOUR
T1 - Extracts of pine bark (Pinus sylvestris) inhibit Cryptosporidium parvum growth in cell culture
AU - Blomstrand, Berit Marie
AU - Enemark, Heidi Larsen
AU - Øines, Øivind
AU - Steinshamn, Håvard
AU - Aasen, Inga Marie
AU - Mahnert, Karl-Christian
AU - Sørheim, Kristin Marie
AU - Athanasiadou, Spiridoula
AU - Thamsborg, Stig Milan
AU - Woolsey, Ian David
N1 - © 2021. The Author(s).
PY - 2021/8
Y1 - 2021/8
N2 - The widespread apicomplexan parasite Cryptosporidium parvum is responsible for severe gastrointestinal disease in humans and animals. The treatment options are limited, and the efficacy of available drugs is low. Bark contains condensed tannins (CT), which are bioactive compounds previously shown to inhibit parasite development. Here, we examined the anti-cryptosporidial properties of bark extract of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) against C. parvum by means of an in vitro growth inhibition test. We hypothesised that bark extracts would have dose-dependent inhibitory effects on the development of C. parvum in cell culture.Bark extracts from Scots pine extracted with acetone, methanol, and water as solvents were investigated using human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells infected with C. parvum. Oocysts were inoculated onto the cell monolayer and bark extract was added at seven different concentrations. Parasite growth inhibition was quantified by qPCR.The acetone and methanol extracts demonstrated a sigmoid dose-dependent inhibition of C. parvum. The IC50 values were 244.6 and 279.1 µg dry matter extract/mL, and 25.4 and 24.1 µg CT/mL, for acetone and methanol extracts, respectively. The IC50 for both extracts were similar, both with regard to the dry matter concentration of each extract and to CT concentrations.Given the limited treatment options available for Cryptosporidium spp., the evidence generated in our study encourages further investigation into the in vitro and in vivo effects of pine bark extracts against C. parvum.
AB - The widespread apicomplexan parasite Cryptosporidium parvum is responsible for severe gastrointestinal disease in humans and animals. The treatment options are limited, and the efficacy of available drugs is low. Bark contains condensed tannins (CT), which are bioactive compounds previously shown to inhibit parasite development. Here, we examined the anti-cryptosporidial properties of bark extract of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) against C. parvum by means of an in vitro growth inhibition test. We hypothesised that bark extracts would have dose-dependent inhibitory effects on the development of C. parvum in cell culture.Bark extracts from Scots pine extracted with acetone, methanol, and water as solvents were investigated using human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells infected with C. parvum. Oocysts were inoculated onto the cell monolayer and bark extract was added at seven different concentrations. Parasite growth inhibition was quantified by qPCR.The acetone and methanol extracts demonstrated a sigmoid dose-dependent inhibition of C. parvum. The IC50 values were 244.6 and 279.1 µg dry matter extract/mL, and 25.4 and 24.1 µg CT/mL, for acetone and methanol extracts, respectively. The IC50 for both extracts were similar, both with regard to the dry matter concentration of each extract and to CT concentrations.Given the limited treatment options available for Cryptosporidium spp., the evidence generated in our study encourages further investigation into the in vitro and in vivo effects of pine bark extracts against C. parvum.
KW - Cell Culture Techniques
KW - Cell Line, Tumor
KW - Cryptosporidium parvum/drug effects
KW - Humans
KW - Pinus sylvestris/chemistry
KW - Plant Bark/chemistry
KW - Plant Extracts/pharmacology
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85111861435&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00436-021-07220-w
DO - 10.1007/s00436-021-07220-w
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 34269871
SN - 0932-0113
VL - 120
SP - 2919
EP - 2927
JO - Parasitology Research
JF - Parasitology Research
IS - 8
ER -