Antigiardial Activity of <i>Foeniculum vulgare</i> Hexane Extract and Some of Its Constituents
Irma G. Domínguez-Vigil,
Benito D. Mata-Cárdenas,
Patricia C. Esquivel-Ferriño,
Francisco G. Avalos-Alanís,
Javier Vargas-Villarreal,
María del Rayo Camacho-Corona
Affiliations
Irma G. Domínguez-Vigil
Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, San Nicolás de los Garza 64570, NL, Mexico
Benito D. Mata-Cárdenas
Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, San Nicolás de los Garza 64570, NL, Mexico
Patricia C. Esquivel-Ferriño
Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, San Nicolás de los Garza 64570, NL, Mexico
Francisco G. Avalos-Alanís
Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, San Nicolás de los Garza 64570, NL, Mexico
Javier Vargas-Villarreal
Laboratorio de Bioquímica y Fisiología Celular, Centro de Investigación Biomédica del Noreste, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Monterrey 64720, NL, Mexico
María del Rayo Camacho-Corona
Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, San Nicolás de los Garza 64570, NL, Mexico
Foeniculum vulgare is used for the treatment of diarrhea in Mexican traditional medicine. Hexane extract showed 94 % inhibition of Giardia duodenalis trophozoites at 300 μg/mL. Therefore, 20 constituents of hexane extract were evaluated to determine their antigiardial activity. Interestingly, six compounds showed good activity toward the parasite. These compounds were (1R,4S) (+)-Camphene (61%), (R)(−)-Carvone (66%), estragole (49%), p-anisaldehyde (67%), 1,3-benzenediol (56%), and trans, trans-2,4-undecadienal (97%). The aldehyde trans, trans-2,4-undecadienal was the most active compound with an IC50 value of 72.11 µg/mL against G. duodenalis trophozoites. This aldehyde was less toxic (IC50 588.8 µg/mL) than positive control metronidazole (IC50 83.5 µg/mL) against Vero cells. The above results could support the use of F. vulgare in Mexican traditional medicine.
